Bible Reading: John 15:8-11

Aunt Jan was brewing herbal tea when Leah was dropped off for a visit one Sunday afternoon. Leah happily sat down in the homey kitchen and sniffed the air. "Mmm, it smells good in here!"

"Orange blossom tea--my favorite," said Aunt Jan with a smile. She pointed to a cake on the counter. "Help yourself."

Leah got a plate from the cupboard and cut a slice of cake. Aunt Jan raised her brows. "Why so quiet today?" she asked. "You usually talk my ears off!"

Leah laughed. "I was just thinking," she said.

"Well then, why not let me think with you?" said Aunt Jan. "What are we thinking about?"

"The lesson we had in Sunday school today was about growing in the Lord," Leah said. "Our teacher said we need to grow as Christians in order to become like Jesus, but I'm confused. Didn't He change us when we put our faith in Him? I guess I don't quite get it."

"You're right, Leah," said Aunt Jan. "Jesus did change us when we trusted Him to save us from sin--we changed from being dead in sin to alive in Christ. But it takes time to grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Him." She took a sip of tea, then looked down at her cup. "It's a lot like tea," she said.

"Tea?" Leah asked.

"Yes, tea," said Aunt Jan. "The moment a tea bag is put into hot water, it's no longer water--it's tea. That's like what happens to us the moment Jesus comes into our lives. But even though Jesus saves us from sin in an instant, it takes longer for us to learn to live out His truth and love in different areas of our lives and become more like Him--just like tea grows stronger the longer the tea bag is in it. The more we learn about Jesus and depend on Him to work in our hearts, the more we grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Him."

Leah grinned. "Thanks, Aunt Jan. I think I get it now!"

–Cindy Van Schalkwyk

How About You?
Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Do you spend time praying to Him and reading His Word, the Bible? Do you go to church to learn more about Him and spend time with other Christians who can encourage and support you in your faith? As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, you'll become more like Him as He teaches you to trust Him and show His love to others.

Today's Key Verse:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3:18)

Today's Key Thought:
Grow to be more like Jesus

Bible Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

It was starting to rain. Daisy hated being out in the rain. But she had gotten into a big fight with her older sister before heading outside to walk the dog. They had yelled at each other and called each other names, and she wasn't ready to go back to the house and face her. Daisy didn't know what she was going to say when she did.

So she kept walking down the sidewalk. Her dog, Oscar, was getting wet too, but he didn't seem to mind.

The further she got from home, the heavier the rain came down. Daisy was getting soaked now and wondered if it had been a good idea to stay out so long. What if she got sick? She'd better turn around and go home.

Daisy tugged on Oscar's leash and got him to jog with her back to the house.

"Where were you?" her sister Violet asked as soon as she stepped through the door.

Was her sister still angry with her? Daisy bit her bottom lip. "We were walking."

"You're soaking wet." Violet frowned. "Go take a bath and warm up. I'll deal with Oscar."

Daisy handed her the dog's leash and hurried to do as she was told.

After a nice warm shower, Daisy dressed in some dry clothes and made her way to the kitchen, where she could hear her sister moving about.

"Here." Violet set a steaming mug in front of her. "I made you hot chocolate."

"Thanks." Daisy put her hands around the mug but didn't sip yet. "You're not mad anymore?"

"No." Violet sighed. "I'm sorry. We always fight, and then when something happens like you go wandering out in the rain, I regret everything I said."

"I regret everything I said too," Daisy said. "I hate fighting with you."

Violet nodded. "At least we can say we're sorry and forgive each other. And God forgives us too."

"No matter how many times we fight," Daisy said.

"Or what we do." Violet smiled. "We can always forgive each other and count on God's forgiveness so that we can start over again."

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
Do you often get into fights with your siblings or friends? Do you sometimes worry that things have gone too far? Or do you always come back and forgive each other, time after time? God forgives us again and again for the wrong things we do, and that's how He wants us to forgive others. When you say unkind things to others, tell them you're sorry, and trust God to help you forgive them for the hurtful words they said to you.

Today's Key Verse:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (NIV)

(Matthew 6:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Forgive again and again

Bible Reading: Acts 3:18-21; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Marilyn gazed at her dad as he dozed in the hospital bed. She hated the atrocious yellow hospital gown and the tubes that went into his chest. He was supposed to be strong, but here he just looked tired and weary.

"How much longer will he be here?" Marilyn asked Mom hesitantly. She desperately wanted Dad home.

A deep sigh came from her mom. She rubbed her forehead. "I don't know, honey. The doctor is unsure."

Marilyn bit her lip. "Doesn't God want Dad to be healed?"

Mom took Marilyn's hand in her own, and Marilyn leaned into the warm touch in the otherwise cold and bare room. "God loves us and your dad so much, Marilyn--more than we could ever comprehend. He doesn't want us to be sick or suffer. God is good, and He hates our pain, but He allows it in our lives for reasons we don't fully understand."

"I hate it too." Marilyn glanced at Dad again as he slept.

Mom squeezed her hand. "Every day I ask God, 'Why is there sickness?'" Marilyn felt assured knowing Mom asked the same big questions she did. "The world isn't supposed to be this way," Mom said. "Even though we humans messed it up with our sin, God is at work every single day to make it whole again. That work is called restoration."

"And He's doing this now?"

Mom nodded. "It started in the first book of the Bible when God promised to bless His people and guide them when they were lost. Then Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again so our relationship with God could be restored. Jesus also healed and fed people, giving us a glimpse of God's plan for eternal restoration. Today I see His restoration in the gifts He's given people and the ways they use them to help others--like the doctors caring for your dad. And one day, God promises to bring complete and total restoration. There will be no more sickness and no more death forever."

Dad stirred in his bed as Marilyn asked, "But what about today?"

"Today I hold on to that hope knowing that God is with me, you, and Dad," Mom said.

Marilyn smiled at Dad as he slowly opened his eyes. Hope. For now, that was enough.

–Zoe Brickner

How About You?
Have you or anyone you know ever stayed in the hospital or suffered from a sickness or disease? Have you asked God why there's such brokenness on our planet? Take heart. He sees your pain and holds you close. He has been faithful in the past and will one day fulfill His promise to completely heal and restore all that is broken. Then there will be no more sickness, pain, or death.

Today's Key Verse:
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Today's Key Thought:
God will restore the world

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Cassian pointed to a row of cars on display at the automobile museum. "Don't these old cars look funny, Grandpa?"

Grandpa smiled. "Well, they look a bit funny to us now, but they were pretty fancy in their day." He pointed to one of the cars. "My grandfather drove a car like that when he was a young man. It came in any color you wanted, as long as what you wanted was black."

Cassian laughed. "Did you get to ride around in it when you were a kid?"

"No," said Grandpa. "It was long gone by then. I just saw it in a picture."

"Some of these old cars look brand new!" Cassian said, peering through the window of one of them. "This one doesn't look like it's ever been out on the road."

"Oh, but it has," said Grandpa. "It's very old and must have traveled many miles, but it's been restored."

"Restored?" asked Cassian. "That means it's been fixed up so it looks just like it did when it was new, right?"

Grandpa nodded. "Worn-out parts have been replaced, and the car's been repainted with shiny new paint. It's just like it's brand new again." He stooped down to get a closer look at the car's shiny wheels. "It's kind of like what Jesus does for us when we confess our sins to Him. He forgives us and makes us clean again. The Bible says He restores our souls. It's like He refreshes us and makes us brand new."

"When an old car is restored, it must look way different than it did when it was worn out," said Cassian. "But Jesus doesn't make us look different."

"Well, I'm not so sure about that," said Grandpa. "He changes our spirit and soul and attitude, and I think that can make us look different too. We're able to have a better outlook on life and care deeply for others because we know our sins have been forgiven and we belong to Him. And that often puts a smile on our faces instead of a scowl. Don't you think?"

Cassian thought about it. "Yeah," he said. "I guess so!"

–Sam L. Sullivan

How About You?
Are you feeling worn out by sin in your life? Do you need to be restored? Even though Jesus saves us and makes us new people the moment we put our faith in Him, we need His ongoing forgiveness and restoration in our lives. When you confess your wrongs to Jesus, He will restore you and leave you feeling brand new! When you feel refreshed and clean again, let it show so others can see what Jesus has done for you.

Today's Key Verse:
He [God] restores my soul. (NKJV) (Psalm 23:3)

Today's Key Thought:
God forgives sin and restores us

Bible Reading: Titus 2:7-8, 11-14

As Jesse and his dad walked through the mall, Jesse talked about how he and some kids from church had collected cans from people around the neighborhood for a fundraising project. "When I knocked on Mr. Martin's door, he wouldn't give me any cans to take back to church. He said he didn't even believe I was a Christian!"

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Dad. "That was an unkind thing for him to say. Have you said or done anything that would make him feel that way?"

"I don't think so," Jesse answered. But then he remembered something. Maybe Mr. Martin knows I'm the one who knocked a ball through his window, he thought. I was going to tell him, but the other guys said I shouldn't. They said he'd never know who did it. "Nothing much, anyway," Jesse added when he noticed Dad frowning at him.

Just then they arrived at a sporting goods store. Jesse pointed to a football displayed in the window. "Look! There's the ball I want. Can we go in and see how much it costs?"

"How do you know they sell that kind of football here?" Dad asked.

Jesse gave his dad a questioning look. "How do I know? It's in the window! Everybody knows the stuff you see in the window is sold in the store."

Dad nodded. "It makes sense that what we see out here is what we believe we'll find inside. That's how it is with people too. What they see in our actions is what they believe we're like inside. So for someone to believe we're Christian, they need to believe we belong to Christ--that's where the word Christian comes from. They need to see the love He has put in our hearts flow out through our actions. And when we fail to show His love and do something hurtful, we need to admit our mistake and try to make things right." Dad headed for the store's entrance. "Well, let's go inside and see if you can afford that ball."

Jesse hesitated. "Dad, wait!" he said. Then he told him about the broken window. "I'm not going to buy a football now," Jesse said. "I need to use my money to pay Mr. Martin for that window."

–Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Do your actions show people that you belong to Jesus? Are the things you've said and done today things that show the love that Jesus has put in your heart? What you display on the outside should show what's on the inside--that Jesus is in your life. Show people that you belong to Jesus by treating others the way He would.

Today's Key Verse:
[Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin…and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (NLT) (Titus 2:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Let Jesus be seen in you

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:9-13; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

"We had so much fun!" Summer said when she got home after spending the afternoon at the beach with a friend. She plopped down in a chair and looked around the room. "Why is it so dark in here?" she wanted to know.

Her brother laughed. "Because you're still wearing your sunglasses," he told her. Summer laughed too and removed the glasses.

Dad smiled. "I just thought of something, Summer." He reached for a Bible and opened it. "Put those glasses back on and come here a minute. I'd like you to read a verse for me." Dad pointed to the verse he wanted her to read.

Summer looked at the Bible. "You mean with my glasses on?" she asked, and Dad nodded.

Summer held the Bible a little closer. The print wasn't very clear, but she managed to read it. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." Summer stopped reading and grinned at her dad. "Seeing through dark glass describes me--it's like me reading through sunglasses."

"It describes all of us," said Dad. "For example, it can be hard for us to see why certain things happen in our lives. When your cousin Payson died last year, we were very upset--and even angry--weren't we?"

A sad look crossed Summer's face, and she nodded her head.

"We all had questions," said Dad. "We wanted to know why it happened, right?"

Again, Summer nodded. She still wondered.

"In this life, we see the things that happen as if we were wearing dark glasses," Dad continued. "Many things are unclear, and we wonder why God allows them to happen. But when we see Jesus face-to-face, we won't have questions like that anymore. We'll truly understand that His will is perfect and everything happens according to His plan. For now, we just need to remember that Jesus knows our pain because He suffered and died to save us and trust Him to work everything out for good."

Summer took her sunglasses off and looked at them. "I don't understand why God let Payson die, but I'm glad Jesus knows how we feel and is helping us through it."

–Richard S. Maffeo

How About You?
Do you find it hard to trust God when you can't see how things are going to end or why certain things happen? Jesus knows how you feel, and He promises to help you through any situation you face. You can trust Him to be with you and work everything out for good, even when you don't understand.

Today's Key Verse:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. (KJV) (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus in hard times

Bible Reading: Psalms 104:24-28; 117:1-2

"I'm ahead of you, Mom!" Kenzie called as she paddled down the river in her kayak.

"Kenzie, stop and look ahead of you!" Mom called back.

Kenzie slowed down her kayak, noticing a bunch of branches ahead of her on the water. "What are those?"

Mom moved her kayak beside Kenzie's. "I think it's a beaver dam. Let's sit here for a little bit and see if anything comes out."

"Okay," Kenzie replied. She kept her eyes on the dam as she took a sip of her water.

A couple minutes later, Kenzie noticed some movement. "Look, Mom."

"It's an otter," Mom whispered as the pair watched the tiny animal. "Otters sometimes take over abandoned beaver dams."

"It's so cute." Kenzie smiled as the otter dove into the water and swam away.

"God's creation is beautiful," Mom agreed. "I love kayaking. It gives us a chance to admire all the wonderful things God has created."

"We learned about that in Sunday school yesterday!" Kenzie exclaimed. "In Psalms, there's a verse that says the earth is full of the creatures God made."

Mom nodded. "Another verse in Psalms says, 'Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.'" She smiled as she looked at the beaver dam. "Both verses are great reminders that God made so many things for us, and we should take the time to admire them. One way to praise God is by admiring His creation."

"A lot of verses in Psalms tell us to praise God, don't they?" said Kenzie.

"Yes," Mom replied. "We have so many reasons to praise God. Not only did He create the earth and all the creatures in it, He created us in His own image and sent Jesus to save us from sin and give us a relationship with Him that lasts forever. He has done so much for us, and He wants us to praise Him and enjoy the good things He's given us."

Kenzie grabbed her paddle. "Let's praise Him right now by admiring His creation as we race on this nice water He made for us!" she called as she began to paddle down the river.

–Kimberly Brokish

How About You?
Do you take time to admire God's creation? Maybe you take walks, play in the yard, or look through the windows of your bedroom. He has made so many things for us to admire and enjoy. We can see God's power in creation and praise Him for all the things He made and for the love He has for us. What is your favorite thing that God created?

Today's Key Verse:
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (NIV) (Psalm 150:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Praise God for His creation

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-26; Colossians 1:9-14

"This is the prettiest flower garden I've ever seen!" said Nia.

Grandma looked up from her weeding. "I enjoy it too. When it's nice outside, I spend time almost every day watering, weeding, or transplanting something. It's a lot of work, but worth it." She smiled as she pulled a weed out of the dirt. "It reminds me of my life as a Christian."

"It does?" asked Nia. "Why?"

"Well, for one thing, weeds in my life can grow as quickly as weeds in my flower bed," replied Grandma.

"Weeds in your life?" asked Nia. "You mean things like problems? Like when people are nasty or you get sick or somebody you love dies?"

"Yes," said Grandma. "We experience all kinds of difficult and painful situations, and if we're not careful, they can cause us to become angry, bitter, and unforgiving. Those attitudes are like weeds with very long roots. The weeds in my garden would take over if I let them, and the weeds in my life would too."

"So how do you get rid of them?" asked Nia.

"Well, I like to think of the time I spend with Jesus as His weeding and watering time for my life," replied Grandma. "Praying, reading my Bible, going to church--those are all ways to learn more about Jesus and what He wants for me."

"I try to pray and read my Bible and listen in church," said Nia. "But sometimes it's hard."

Grandma nodded. "Sometimes I don't feel like working in my garden," she said. "But then I remember how important it is for my flowers and do it anyway, and once I get my hands in the dirt, I often find it to be a pure joy."

"So can you make flowers grow in your life by doing those things like you do in your garden?" asked Nia.

"Well, God makes the flowers grow, not me--in both my garden and my life," said Grandma. "But I can give the flowers in my life--the Bible calls them the fruit of the Spirit--a good place to grow by spending time with Jesus so I have the strength to handle any weedy situations that come along. It's well worth the effort."

–Rosalie J. Currier

How About You?
Are there weedy problems in your life? Don't let them take root and produce sinful actions or unloving attitudes. Jesus wants your life to be like a beautiful garden that produces the fruit of the Spirit. Spend time with Him so He can refresh your soul. Talk to Him about your problems, and let Him encourage you by reading His Word and spending time with other Christians.

Today's Key Verse:
That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (NKJV) (Colossians 1:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Spend time with Jesus

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:2-5; 2:7; Psalm 33:6-9; Ephesians 2:4-10

"Look, Levi, I'm making a snowman!" cried Claire, rolling a white blob of playdough into a ball.

But her brother didn't seem to be listening. Levi was concentrating. He had spent the last ten minutes sculpting the face of a lion out of some yellow playdough. Claire had to admit, Levi's lion was pretty good. He had used a plastic knife to carve out the lion's features, and now he was working on a fiery mane.

"Looks like you guys are having fun!" said Mom, pausing at the table to view their creations. "I like your snowman, Claire! And that lion's beginning to look quite lifelike, Levi. I love the way you've twisted all those strands together to make his mane. You're both so creative!"

"Creative?" asked Claire. "I thought only God created things."

"Well, the Bible says God made people in His own image," said Mom, taking a seat at the table. "That's why we enjoy being creative. Some people like to paint. Some people like to bake. But while humans can only create things using materials that already exist, God created the universe out of nothing."

"Nothing?" asked Claire. "How can you make something out of nothing?" She waved her hands around as though trying to shape a creature out of thin air. "It's impossible!"

Mom laughed. "God created light just by speaking! And Psalm 33 tells us He created the heavenly hosts--all the stars in the sky--by the breath of His mouth."

Claire gasped. "Wow! That's amazing!"

"But when He created Adam," Mom continued, "God fashioned him with His own hands from the dust of the earth and breathed life into his nose."

Levi finally spoke. "Whoa! This lion I've been sculpting is just a model. It will never live or move. But God made a real man!"

"That's right," said Mom. "Only God can do that! And only God can give people new life. The Bible explains that because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humans are born spiritually dead because of sin. But when we trust Jesus to save us from sin, it's as though God breathes new, eternal life into an old pile of dust. Jesus makes us alive all over again!"

Claire and Levi looked at each other and smiled. "That's so awesome!"

–Angela Jelf

How About You?
Do you enjoy being creative? Do you like drawing or writing stories? Or perhaps you enjoy building things or making up games. God made us to be creative, but He is the ultimate Creator because He made the universe out of nothing! And He breathes new spiritual life into those who trust in Jesus. Have you received Jesus and the new life He brings? (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:
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (NIV)

(Genesis 2:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Only God can create life

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 4:16-18

"Nick, can you come up here and hold this for me?" Mr. Manning asked.

Nick's heart beat faster as he walked to the front of the classroom. He got nervous any time he had to be in front of others.

With shaking hands, Nick took the poster his teacher asked him to hold. A minute later, he was sitting on the floor with his teacher in front of him.

"Just breathe," Mr. Manning said.

Nick did as he was told and eventually calmed down. When he looked around, he found the classroom empty. "Wait…where did everyone go?"

"They went out to recess," Mr. Manning said. "You can go too."

Nick frowned. Everyone had abandoned him, even his friends.

"Hey, are you okay?" A voice came from behind Nick as he headed for the door.

Nick turned and saw Alex, a kid he barely knew, using his hands to move his wheelchair up to him. "Why aren't you at recess?"

Alex shrugged. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I thought everyone just went out and left me." Nick sighed. "Thanks for caring."

At church that evening, Pastor John talked about the apostle Paul. "In the book of Second Timothy, Paul writes about a time when everyone abandoned him but God," Pastor John said. "Have you ever felt like that? All alone? Sometimes we don't even feel God with us."

Nick thought of how he'd felt at school that day. He had felt completely alone. He hadn't seen Alex in the corner of the room, and he had felt abandoned.

"God is always there," Pastor John said. "Whether we feel His presence or not, He is always with us."

Nick looked at the stained glass window, the one that showed Jesus hanging out with a group of children. Are you always there, God? he wondered. Even when it feels like everyone has abandoned me?

"God never abandons us," Pastor John said, as if reading Nick's thoughts. "Jesus died for our sins and rose again so we would never be separated from Him. Even if everyone else abandons us, God is with us and will help us with every problem we face. He also places caring people in our lives--sometimes ones we don't expect--to remind us we're not alone."

–Emily Acker

How About You?
Are there times when you feel alone? Does it ever seem like everyone else has left you behind or doesn't have time for you? God is there for you, no matter what. Jesus gave His life to save you, and He won't ever abandon you. He cares about what you're going through and often shows that care through people He's put in your life. Trust Him to be with you and help you through everything you face.

Today's Key Verse:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (NIV) (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Today's Key Thought:
God never abandons you