Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:20-27; Matthew 14:22-32

Mara climbed up onto the beam Dad had built for her. She was determined to make the school gymnastics team, but after taking a few steps, she wobbled and nearly slipped off. "Focus your eyes on that picture you put up," Mom said.

While staring at the picture on the wall across the room, Mara slowly lifted her foot. But when she glanced back at her mother, she tilted to the left and then swayed to the right. She tried to regain her balance, but had to hop down to keep from toppling off the beam. She climbed back up. "I'm gonna get this," she said. "I just have to focus."

After dinner that evening, Dad opened his Bible and handed it to Mara. "Why don't you read a few verses from Proverbs for us?"

"Okay." Mara took the Bible and began to read. When she finished, she looked up. "Proverbs 4:25 sounds like good advice for gymnastics. I need to look straight ahead and keep my eyes from wandering. Every time I lose my focus, I lose my balance."

Mom nodded. "I have trouble with that too."

"You do?" Mara grinned. "Do you get up on the beam and practice when I'm not around?"

Mom laughed. "No, but I have trouble in another area. As Christians, we need to keep our focus on Jesus so we don't get distracted by things in this world and lose our balance in life."

Mara thought about that. "When I practice for gymnastics, I stare at that picture on the wall. But how do we focus on Jesus?"

"Good question," said Dad. "The passage you just read listed some ways to do that. Do you remember what it said we should do?"

"I know!" said Mara's little brother. "It said we should pay attention to what God says."

"And keep it in our hearts and not let it out of our sight," added Mara.

Dad nodded. "Right. That means putting our faith in Jesus and looking to His Word for guidance in our lives. It also means confessing our sins to Jesus and trusting Him for the power to obey Him and show His love to others. Focusing our lives on Him will keep us in perfect balance."

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Do you focus on Jesus as you go about each day? Do you remember all He's done for you and the love and forgiveness you have in Him? Do you trust Him to help you turn from sin and treat others with kindness? There are lots of things that need our daily attention, but don't let them draw you away from what's really important. Stay focused on Jesus and depend on Him to help you in every area of life.

Today's Key Verse:
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. (NIV) (Proverbs 4:25)

Today's Key Thought:
Focus on Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 104:16-24

Dad rowed the boat to the edge of some lily pads. It was the best place in the lake to catch fish. As Alex sat in the boat with his father, he watched his red and white bobber closely and waited for it to go down, signaling a fish had taken the bait. The calm water reflected the sky and trees along the shore. Birds were singing, and a frog hopped off a lily pad and splashed into the lake. The bobber wiggled as the ripples spread under it, but it didn't go down.

"The fish don't seem to be very hungry today," Dad said a while later. "But it sure is nice out here with the blue sky and water and the green grass and trees. It's all so peaceful."

Alex turned to his dad. "We've been studying colors in school," he said. "Some scientists say that blue slows down the rate of the heart and green helps prevent eyestrain. That makes them restful colors."

"Do you suppose that's why God made so much blue and green in nature?" Dad asked. "Just imagine what it would be like if the sky were bright red and all the leaves were black."

Alex laughed. "We learned that red is supposed to make people more active. Some say it can even cause blood pressure to rise. I don't think it would make people feel very good to have a red sky all the time." He paused. "It sure looks pretty when the sun is setting though."

"God is very wise," said Dad. "We see a great deal of His wisdom in nature--even in the colors He chose. Restful greens and blues most of the time, but pretty reds and oranges and yellows in evening sunsets and fall leaves."

"Right. And lots of colors in flowers and berries and stuff." Alex looked at his fishing line. "You know what else scientists say? They say orange makes you hungry." He grinned at his dad. "I wish God had made these bobbers. Instead of making them red and white, He probably would have made them orange to make the fish more hungry. Then maybe they'd take the bait!"

–Jane K. Chase

How About You?
Have you thought about how wonderful God's creation is? The world is full of things that show His great wisdom and power. There's something special and different about every season of the year, and every living creature has its own amazing features and abilities. Thank God for creating this beautiful world for you to enjoy--and for creating and loving you!

Today's Key Verse:
O LORD, how many are Your works! You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of what You have made. (NLV)

(Psalm 104:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Appreciate God's creation

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:8-23; Romans 6:23; 8:1

Lila normally loved her and Mom's monthly post-church café tradition. They sat at their usual window seat, but today Lila nudged ice cubes around with her straw in silence. Unable to bear the silence anymore, Mom asked what was wrong.

Sighing, Lila responded, "Well, we learned about sin today at church, and I just don't understand. Why does sin have to ruin everything, and why does it cause pain and death and heartbreak?"

"Now that's a big question," Mom said, "but a good one. Let me take a moment and try to think of a good way to answer." She looked out the window until her eyes landed on something. "Do you see that wasp?"

Lila grimaced at the yellow-and-black-winged terror. "Yes."

"Well, sin is kind of like your allergic reactions to wasp stings," said Mom. "How did you feel when you got stung last week?"

Lila rubbed the spot on her arm where a wasp had stung her. It was still slightly red and raised up. "I was dizzy. My whole arm swelled up, and I even had trouble breathing."

"Right. Even though the wasp only stung one tiny part of your body, you still felt its horrible effects everywhere. Like your bee sting, it only took one mistake for everything to become cursed with sin. When Adam and Eve, the first two people, chose their own way instead of God's, their disobedience broke the perfect relationship they had with God and brought sin and its horrible effects into the world."

"And that's why Jesus had to come," said Lila.

Mom nodded. "Jesus's perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave saves us from the punishment of sin and heals our relationship with God. But because sin still exists in the world, we see its effects in our lives--like when wasps sting us and cause us pain. Yet we can be excited about how God will make everything perfect again one day."

Lila glanced at the wasp outside the window. "Yeah, thank You, Jesus, for saving us…and thank You for allergy medicine!"

"Praise Jesus, indeed," Mom said with a smile.

Lila grinned as their server set a plate of waffles down in front of her. "Praise Jesus for waffles too."

–Zoe Brickner

How About You?
Have you ever wondered how sin could cause so much pain and suffering in the world? It's easy to forget how awful sin truly is and how it effects everything. But God, out of His unexplainable and never-ending love for us, sent Jesus to save us from sin, and He promises to one day make everything perfect again. When we trust in Him, we can look forward to the day when all pain and suffering will end.

Today's Key Verse:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV) (Romans 6:23)

Today's Key Thought:
God will make everything perfect

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

"We're here!" Joshua and Jonathan tumbled out of the car and ran ahead of their parents through a gate. Then they stopped and looked around, puzzled. "This is a cemetery!" Jonathan said. "I thought we were going to a battlefield!"

"Yeah," said Joshua. "The only soldier around here is that statue in the middle of the graves. My teacher says statues like that are memorials--things to help us remember something."

"That's right," Dad said as they moved toward the statue. "Actually, this whole battlefield--which, by the way, extends beyond the cemetery--is a memorial."

Mom nodded. "A memorial can have different forms," she said. "It can be a statue like the one we're looking at. Or it can be a holiday--like Memorial Day. Or even a service designed to remind us of someone or something."

"Like how on Memorial Day we remember people who have died," Jonathan said.

"Yes," said Mom. "On that day, we especially remember those who died while serving their country--men and women like the soldiers buried in this cemetery."

The boys began roaming around, reading the tombstones. "Hey, look!" Jonathan called. "This guy had the same name as me. 'Jonathan Wright. Born 1760. Died 1778.' That means he was only…uh…" Jonathan thought for a moment. "Eighteen years old when he died. He wasn't very old!"

"Do you boys know how old Jesus was when He died?" asked Dad.

"Thirty-three," said Joshua. He rolled a pebble on the gravel path under his shoe. "Why don't we have a memorial day for Jesus?" he asked.

"Oh, we do!" said Dad. "We remember His death on Good Friday, but we also have a day when we remember His resurrection. We call it…"

"Easter!" the boys said in unison.

"Yes," said Mom, "and we not only have special days to remember and celebrate what Jesus did for us. We also have a memorial service. Every time we have the Lord's Supper at church--or Communion as it's also called--we're reminding ourselves of Jesus's death and the sacrifice He made to free us from sin."

–Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?
Have you thanked God for the sacrifices others have made for your freedom? How about the sacrifice Jesus made to free you from sin? Christians celebrate Good Friday, Easter, and Communion to remember that sacrifice. As you remember His death on the cross, His burial, His resurrection, and the fact that He will come again, give thanks for all Jesus has done for you.

Today's Key Verse:
[Jesus said], "This is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 11:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Remember Jesus's sacrifice

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-30

"Mom, I'm home!" Alyssa called as she came in after school.

"Hi, honey!" said Mom. "How was your day? Did you learn anything interesting?"

"We sure did!" said Alyssa. "Mr. Eddleman, our science teacher, poured some really hot water into two glasses. One glass had a spoon in it, and the other one didn't. The one without the spoon cracked when the hot water was poured in, but the other glass was fine. Mr. Eddleman said the metal spoon helped absorb some of the heat and kept the glass from breaking."

"Well, I hope he had the glass in the sink when it broke!" said Mom.

Alyssa laughed. "He did." Then the smile faded from her face. "Everly wasn't in school today--her family is having all kinds of problems. Her brother was in a car accident last night and had to be rushed to the hospital."

"Oh no, that's terrible!" said Mom.

"Yeah," said Alyssa. "And her dad still hasn't found a job, and her grandma is really sick--she might be dying. I don't see how they can deal with it all."

"Well, they know Jesus," said Mom. "And that makes a big difference."

Alyssa shrugged. "I feel like I would crack, like that glass in science class today."

"That science experiment is a pretty good example of how knowing Jesus helps people," said Mom.

"It is?" asked Alyssa in surprise.

Mom nodded. "Just like the hot water was poured into the glasses, we all have problems come into our lives. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that we feel like we might crack under the pressure. But Jesus is like that spoon--He helps absorb the heat of our trials. His constant love and care keep our spirits from breaking. I really don't know how anyone can get through tough times without Him." She smiled at Alyssa. "Let's ask God to comfort and encourage Everly and her family and help them trust Him to bring them through it all."

Alyssa nodded. "Okay," she said. "But can't we do something else too? Like take them a meal or something?"

"We sure can," said Mom. "Let's start fixing one right now."

–Linda E. Knight

How About You?
Are you surrounded by problems and difficulties--or do you know someone else who is? Sickness, a parent losing a job, problems at school, death of a loved one--all these and many other things can make you feel like you simply can't stand it anymore. When you feel like you're going to crack, remember that Jesus is with you. He cares and promises to give you the strength you need.

Today's Key Verse:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7 )

Today's Key Thought:
Give anxieties to God

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

As she sat working on her homework alone, Star didn't feel very loved. It was a holiday weekend, and all her friends had plans. Megan's parents were taking her to a waterpark. Emma was practicing tennis all weekend with her dad. Mila and her siblings were having fun playing on their new trampoline.

Star's mom was working in her home office. She didn't have a dad around or any siblings to spend time with. All she had was homework she had saved for the weekend, just to give herself something to do.

Star frowned at the paper in front her. Why had her teacher assigned her the word love to write about? She didn't know anything about love.

She picked up her phone and called Mila. She had to convince her friend to take a break from the trampoline so they could talk. "How am I supposed to write about love?" she asked. "No one loves me."

Mila snorted. "No one? What about me? And Emma and Megan?"

"That's…different." Star hadn't thought of her friends as she was considering the topic.

"What about your mom?" Mila asked. "She loves you."

Star glanced toward her mom's office. "She doesn't spend time with me."

"Because she's busy," Mila said. "She's busy because she loves you and needs to work to take care of you." She sighed. "What about God, Star? Aren't you forgetting that He loves you?"

Star twisted her hair around her finger. Maybe she had forgotten God. "Sometimes it doesn't feel like it."

"Maybe not," Mila said. "But He really does, Star. Like we learned at church, His love is bigger than any human love. Jesus died on the cross so you could live with Him forever. What love is bigger than that?"

Star nodded slowly. "You're right."

"You don't need to go on a trip or get amazing gifts in order to be loved," Mila said. "But, Star? I really am loving the new trampoline and I would like to get back to it. Since your mom is working, want me to ask my mom to give you a ride over so you can try it out?"

Star's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Really," Mila said. "Because I love you." She laughed. "Don't forget how much God loves you too, Star."

–Emily Acker

How About You?
Have you had times when you felt like you were not loved at all by anyone? God's love is greater than the love of any human--He loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you so you could spend eternity with Him, and He promises to always love you and take care of you. If you think about all the people He's put in your life, you'll probably realize you're loved by many others too.

Today's Key Verse:
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (NKJV) (John 15:9)

Today's Key Thought:
God has great love for you!

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:12-15; Ephesians 4:25-32

Alastair walked into the kitchen where his sister Stasia was doing homework. "Emerson got in trouble again," said Alastair. "I can't believe he's going to flunk math over this!"

Stasia looked up in surprise. "Over what? What did he do?"

"Mr. Hoover caught him looking at somebody's paper during a test," Alastair replied. "Emerson said he was just checking one or two answers. That's all. I think Mr. Hoover just hates Emerson, so he's making a big deal out of nothing."

"Well, if Emerson was caught cheating, what did he expect?" Stasia asked.

"It's not like he was stealing somebody's money during gym class," said Alastair, trying to make his sister understand. "Other kids in school do a lot worse stuff than what Emerson did."

Alastair turned to Mom, who was loading the dishwasher. "Can you hand me a glass, Mom? I'd like some juice."

"Sure," said Mom, and she handed him a dirty glass.

Alastair grimaced. "Yuck! I can't drink out of this. There's still dried milk in the bottom of it."

"But it's cleaner than these others that need to be washed," Mom said.

Alastair didn't say anything right away. He was pretty sure this had something to do with what they were just talking about, and he was trying to figure out what it was.

"After all," Mom continued, "if cheating is no big deal because it doesn't seem as bad as what somebody else did, then a little dried milk in a glass shouldn't be a big deal either, as long as it's not as dirty as the other glasses."

"Oh, well, I…um…" Alastair didn't know what to say.

"It can be easy for us to excuse the wrongdoing of our friends--and especially our own wrongs--because someone else did something that seems worse," Mom explained. "But it's all sin in God's eyes. After all, cheating is stealing too--it's stealing the work someone else did and claiming it as your own, which is a sin, and it hurts them just as much as if you were stealing their money."

Alastair nodded. "Sorry, Mom." He looked at the glass in his hand. "I guess I'll wait to have some juice, since all the glasses are dirty."

–Mike A. Dize

How About You?
Do you think it's okay to do some things because they don't seem as bad as other things people do? Do you overlook cheating or lying because it's not as bad as robbery or murder? God says all wrongdoing is sin. No matter what other people think about it, it's hurtful to others and disobedient to God. Don't excuse any form of wrongdoing. If you're the one at fault, confess your sin to Jesus and He will forgive you.

Today's Key Verse:
All wrongdoing is sin. (NIV)

(1 John 5:17)

Today's Key Thought:
All wrongdoing is sin

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35-39

Micah ran into the house and threw his backpack on the kitchen table. "Mom! Do we have any frozen pizza?"

He cocked his head. The house was silent. He looked down and noticed Mom's phone on the counter. That's weird, he thought. She usually carries it with her.

Micah walked back to his parents' bedroom and knocked. Mom opened the door. "Oh, hi, honey. I didn't hear you come in."

"You left your phone in the kitchen, Mom."

"I know, Micah," said Mom. "I was praying, and I didn't want to be disturbed."

"Praying? In the middle of the day?"

Mom smiled. "I always have prayer time while your sister naps. I'm usually finished before the bus drops you off. I guess I had a lot to tell God today!"

"But we pray together--at the dinner table, and at church. Isn't that enough?"

"Praying together is very important, but the Bible says to pray without ceasing--that means continually connecting with Him and seeking His wisdom in our lives. So it's good to spend time with Him on our own too. I find it helpful to have a place of solitude to do that. Even Jesus needed a quiet space sometimes--he often went onto a mountain to pray."

Micah considered this. "Maybe I should find a place of solitude too!"

First Micah tried the living room. He sat on the couch, closed his eyes, and--

"Hey, Micah!" His little sister Sophie plopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. "Time for my cartoons!"

Next Micah tried his bedroom. He shoved the toys off the bed, closed his eyes, and--

A big wet tongue gave his cheek a slobbery kiss.

"Not now, Puddles!" Micah laughed and scratched the old hound dog behind the ears. "I'm looking for solitude--but this house is too crowded!" A swirl of rustling leaves outside the window caught his eye. "I've got it!" he said and ran out of the house.

He climbed the strong branches of the oak tree and closed his eyes, feeling the spring breeze brush his face. Jesus climbed a mountain to find solitude, thought Micah. I only have to climb a tree!

–Jennifer Dillard

How About You?
Do you take a break from your everyday activities to spend time with God? If you find it hard to connect with God with everything going on around you, try to find a quiet place to pray. Jesus even had to take a break from those around Him to spend time with God. Take a moment away from the world's noise and busyness and connect with God.

Today's Key Verse:
Pray without ceasing. (NKJV) (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Spend time with God

Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:11-13

Isaiah sat at the table ready to eat breakfast. While his mom poured a bowl of cereal, he noticed something about her that felt as familiar as her ears; he noticed the silver chain around her neck with a small dice charm at the end.

"Mom, why do you always wear that necklace?" Isaiah asked.

Mom slid the bowl of cereal and a spoon across the table. "Good question," she said as she poured her own bowl of cereal. "Do you remember my grandpa, your Great-Grandpa Anderson?"

"Kind of," Isaiah said. "Didn't he die when I was really little?"

"Yes," Mom said. "When you were three. I wear this to remember him."

"Doesn't it just make you sad?" Isaiah asked as he picked up his spoon.

"I do feel sad," Mom answered. "And that's okay. I miss him so much. When I see this dice charm, I remember the way he loved me no matter what. I remember how he took broken things and restored them, like that classic car that's still in your great-grandma's garage. When he bought the car, it was basically a pile of rust. But when he finished his work, the car gleamed and looked new, and he hung fuzzy dice from the rearview mirror. These are things I want to remember, things that remind me not only of my grandpa, but also of Jesus and how He loves us and restores us."

"I'm going to think of that story now when I look at your necklace too," Isaiah said.

As he munched another spoonful of cereal, Mom said, "A lot of the Bible is about remembering--remembering who God is and what He has done, remembering His love and promises. While we're sad about sin and pain, diseases and death, reading the Bible helps us remember the past and have hope for the future."

"I feel sad when I think about Joel's little brother having leukemia," Isaiah said. "Is there a Bible story that can give me and Joel some hope?"

"Jesus healed many people when He was on earth, and those healings point to His promise to end pain, sickness, and death forever when He comes again." Mom reached for her Bible. "I'll look up some stories and verses we can read together when you get home from school."

–Rachel Lubow

How About You?
What is your favorite Bible story? How does it show you who God is? How does it give you hope? We all feel sad, confused, afraid, and lonely sometimes. One of the ways God gives us hope is by reminding us that He keeps every promise He makes, which is one of the things we learn about Him in many stories written in the Bible. Read it to remember what God has done and that He is faithful.

Today's Key Verse:
Remember the wondrous works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced. (CSB) (1 Chronicles 16:12)

Today's Key Thought:
Remembering God's work gives us hope

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:8-14

Iris pointed to an oak tree along the bike path where she was riding with her dad and her brother, Ethan. "Half the leaves on that tree are green, and half are brown!" she said.

Ethan laughed. "I guess it can't decide whether it's spring or fall."

Dad stopped his bike under the tree. "Those brown leaves are left over from last year," he said. "This kind of oak is very unwilling to let its leaves drop in the fall. Even the strong winds and heavy snowfall of winter are often unable to tear them from the branches."

"Well, the tree would look nicer if it would just let those ugly, useless old leaves drop," said Iris.

"Maybe the tree is a lot like us," said Dad. "Sometimes we cling to ugly things too--like sinful thoughts and actions."

"Like calling people bad names," said Ethan. "You do that, Iris."

Iris sighed "I know," she said, "but at least I don't go around pointing out other people's faults and ignoring my own." She frowned at her brother.

"Okay, I admit it," said Ethan. "I don't know why I always notice the mistakes others make more than the good stuff they do."

As they got back on their bikes, Iris asked, "What makes those brown leaves finally fall? I know they don't stay on the tree all summer."

"When new leaves grow and cover the tree, they push the old ones off," replied Dad. "The old ones must give way to the new--and you know what? Our lives as Christians are like that too. The Bible says our old habits and desires are sinful, like dead leaves. But when we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us into new creations and puts His love and desires in our hearts, like fresh leaves in the spring."

"So we want the new leaves in our lives to push off the dead ones?" asked Iris.

Dad nodded. "The tree grows new leaves by giving more energy and nutrients to the new growth," he explained. "And Jesus gives us the power to let go of our old ways and live in a way that shows others the new life we have in Him."

–Trudy Vander Veen

How About You?
Are there sins or bad habits in your life that you can't seem to get rid of? We all have "dead leaves" like that, but Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He's given us the Holy Spirit so we have the power to replace those dead things with words and actions that bring life. Trust Him to help you let go of old habits and live the new life of love He's given you.

Today's Key Verse:
But on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy. (NLT)

(Ephesians 4:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Live your new life in Jesus