Bible Reading: Genesis 1:27; 1 Peter 1:18-19

"I don't get it, Grandpa." Malik scratched his head as he looked at the painting. "What is it?"

"Well, the title is Three Musicians. Try squinting your eyes and tilting your head."

"I think I see a clarinet and a guitar, but the musicians look a little creepy."

"That's the beauty of art," said Grandpa. "Everyone sees something different."

Malik and his grandparents were spending the afternoon at an art museum. Malik had never seen so many paintings and sculptures. Hundreds of pieces of artwork hung on walls that stretched on for what seemed like miles.

"Which painting is your favorite, Malik?" Grandma asked.

"I'm not sure, Grammy. Some of these paintings look like they were painted by a three-year-old. Other paintings look way better than anything I could paint. If I had to pick my favorite, it might be Three Musicians. I like that you have to think about what you're looking at. How much do you think a painting like that costs?"

Grandma shrugged. Grandpa scratched his chin. "I'm sure that painting costs millions of dollars."

"Millions of dollars!" Malik couldn't believe it. "It doesn't look that valuable."

Grandpa smiled. "It's not valuable because of how it looks. It's valuable because of who made it. Three Musicians was painted by Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest artists of all time. Many people consider it to be one of his masterpieces."

Grandma put her arm around Malik. "Every time I come here I can't help but think that none of these masterpieces compare to God's masterpieces."

"God's masterpieces?" asked Malik. "Where are God's masterpieces?"

Grandma smiled. "Take a look in the mirror."

"Me?" Malik asked.

"You got it. The Bible says God made all of us in His image. We're God's masterpieces. Our value doesn't come from how we look, but from who made us."

"That's right," Grandpa chimed in. "The Bible also says God paid a high price for us. He sent His Son to die on the cross to save us from sin. Jesus paid for us with His life so we could belong to Him."

Malik took out his phone and snapped a picture of himself with his grandparents. Grandma looked at it and smiled. "Now that's a masterpiece!"

–Jared Hottenstein

How About You?
Have you ever looked in the mirror and seen something you didn't like? Maybe you think your nose is too big or your hair is too curly. The next time you find something about your body you wish you could change, remember that God made you, and He doesn't make mistakes. He made you in His image, and Jesus paid for you with His life. That determines your value--not what you look like.

Today's Key Verse:
God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body. (ERV) (1 Corinthians 6:20 )

Today's Key Thought:
You are God's masterpiece

Bible Reading: John 15:12-13

"Have you ever heard people use colors to describe their feelings?" Miss Iverson asked her class.

Carter waved his hand to make sure she saw it. "Like green with envy?"

"How about purple with rage?" Mei said. "Or blue--like when they're sad."

"All good examples," Miss Iverson said. "Now, people don't actually change color, but some animals do. A chameleon, for example, can quickly change its skin color in response to light, temperature, or other things in its environment. Other animals change color to blend in with their surroundings. They do that to defend themselves against enemies."

That evening, Carter told his dad about his day. "People use different colors to describe how they feel, but some animals really do change their color. Isn't that cool?"

"Sure is," said Dad. "Sounds like you had a good day."

"Pretty good," replied Carter, but then he frowned. "Hari and I always play together at recess time, but today he acted like he didn't even know me! He was playing basketball with a bunch of guys when I came up, and he didn't invite me to play with them or even speak to me. I think he wanted them to think he was cool." Carter paused. "Hari was a chameleon friend today!"

"That's a good way to describe people who change their behavior toward others depending on the situation," said Dad. "But I don't think Hari is the only one who does that. Have you ever done something like that, Carter?"

"Well…maybe." Carter thought of how he treated his little sister differently when his friends came over. "Yeah. I'm not always nice to Layla in front of my friends because I want her to leave us alone."

"Do you remember the verse you learned at church last week?" Dad asked.

Carter nodded. "Proverbs 17:17. It says friends should love each other at all times. That kind of friend wouldn't be like a chameleon."

"No," said Dad. "That verse describes the kind of friend Jesus is. He shows His love for us all the time, and He wants us to do the same. Trust Him to help you be consistent, loving friend--even when others aren't."

"Okay." Carter sighed. "I'll remember that when I see Hari tomorrow."

–Donna Huisjen

How About You?
Have you ever had a chameleon friend? Have you been one yourself? It hurts when a friend changes the way they treat you based on where they are or who they're with. The Bible says a true friend loves at all times. That's how Jesus loves us, and He wants us to love others the same way. Be a consistent friend and treat others in the same loving way all the time.

Today's Key Verse:
A friend loves at all times. (Proverbs 17:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Be a consistent friend

Bible Reading: Psalm 32:1-5; Matthew 6:9-13

Robin knelt at the foot of her bed and bowed her head to pray. It was hard to focus with her little sister, Jenny, screaming in the bathroom.

"No! I don't want to brush my teeth!" Jenny cried.

Mom poked her head into Robin's room, a tired smile on her face. "Robin, could Jenny and I pray with you? Maybe we can pray that Jenny will want to brush her teeth."

Robin nodded, and her sister raced into the room and sat beside her, suddenly

an angel. "Dear Jesus," Robin said. "Thank You for helping me with my math homework and healing Grandma from her fall. Please bless all my friends and family. Help us have a good night's sleep. Amen."

"Amen!" Jenny exclaimed.

"Robin, did you forget something?" Mom asked.

"Oh, right. Jesus, please help Jenny brush her teeth without complaining. Amen."

Mom smiled. "Just one more thing. Do you remember how Jesus taught us how to pray? In addition to thanking God and bringing our needs to Him, we also need to confess our sins."

Robin sighed. "I just don't see the point in asking Jesus to forgive my sins every single day. I'll still make mistakes tomorrow."

"Admitting our wrongs is about more than preventing future mistakes," Mom replied.

Jenny tugged on Mom's sleeve. "Bedtime?"

Robin laughed. "Nice try, Jenny. But you have to brush your teeth."

"Why does she need to brush her teeth?" Mom asked Robin.

"Because her teeth are dirty and she might get cavities if she waits too long to clean them."

"But her teeth will be dirty again tomorrow," Mom said. "And every day after that. Maybe the whole thing is pointless."

"It's still healthier to brush her teeth daily," Robin said. Then she laughed. "You're not talking about brushing teeth, are you?"

"You caught me," Mom said. "Confessing our sins reminds us of our need for Jesus and helps us appreciate what He did to save us. Prayer is meant to bring us closer to Jesus in this way."

Robin turned to Jenny. "If I confess my sins to Jesus, will you finally brush your teeth?"

Jenny sighed dramatically. "Okay, fine."

–Hannah Chung

How About You?
Have you ever wondered why you should confess your sins to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness when you pray? Confessing means to recognize an action or attitude as sin and trust God for forgiveness, knowing that it is because of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross that we will be forgiven. Take a moment to confess any sins, trusting that God will forgive you each and every time.

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 daily

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-9

Landon's eyes widened in horror as his elbow knocked a bottle of paint off the table and it toppled to the floor. Blue paint spread in a growing blob across the kitchen. Landon jumped off his chair and quickly picked up the paint bottle. What am I going to do? he wondered. I've got to clean this up before Grandpa and Grandma see it.

Landon rushed into the laundry room and grabbed some rags, then ran back to the kitchen and used them to soak up the paint on the floor. A large stain remained behind, so he got a bucket of soapy water and began scrubbing the paint spot. This isn't going to work! Landon thought frantically. He ran to the sink and began washing his hands. I can't get the paint off my hands either! He knew he would have to tell his grandparents what had happened.

Grandpa frowned when he came in and saw the stain. "Well, I'm glad the floor isn't carpeted!" he said. "I have some special cleaner in the garage, and I think it will work on this." Grandpa went to get the cleaner, and soon all trace of the paint was gone.

"You know, Landon," said Grandpa as they washed their hands with the same cleaner they had used on the floor, "maybe we can both learn a good lesson from what just happened."

Landon looked up at him. "Not to fool around with paint in the kitchen, right?"

Grandpa smiled. "Well, yes, but I was thinking of an even more important lesson. You couldn't wash the paint stains away by yourself, could you?" Landon shook his head. "The Bible tells us we're all stained by sin, and no matter how hard we try, we can't clean it away ourselves," Grandpa said as he picked up a towel and dried his hands. "But when Jesus died and rose again, He made it possible for our sins to be washed away."

Landon dried his clean hands too. "I needed you to use your special cleaner on the floor and on my hands," he said. "And I need Jesus to clean my heart, right?"

Grandpa smiled and put his hand on Landon's shoulder. "That's exactly right."

–Richard S. Maffeo

How About You?
Have your sins been washed away? You can't clean your heart by being good or doing good things. It won't work. You need someone to clean it for you--Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make your heart clean and free from the guilt of sin. Ask Him to clean your heart today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today's Key Verse:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (NKJV) (Psalm 51:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus cleans sin away

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-10

Malachi waited in the hallway, tapping his foot on the floor. "Almost time…"

He didn't have to wait long. The door to his dad's office opened, and his dad appeared with his glasses pushed up on the top of his head. "Hi, bud," Dad said.

Malachi grinned and started for the kitchen. He knew his dad would follow him.

An hour later, Malachi positioned himself in the hallway again. This time his dad wouldn't just be getting water but also a snack. He was hoping he might share.

"Have you been standing out here all morning?" Dad asked as he stepped out of his office.

Malachi shook his head with a grin. "What are you having today? Yogurt? A granola bar?"

Dad gave him a sheepish smile. "How did you know I was feeling ready for a snack?"

Malachi shrugged. Ever since his dad started working from home, he'd been paying attention and learning his routine.

Malachi told his grandma about it that evening when she came to the house so his dad could go to a meeting. "I've memorized it all. He does everything at a certain time, even going outside to get a little fresh air."

Grandma smiled. "It shows you care a lot about him for you to memorize his routine so you can see him when he takes little breaks from his work."

Malachi nodded slowly. It did show that, didn't it? He wanted all the time he could get with his dad.

Malachi frowned. "No one cares enough to memorize my routine. I don't think Dad even knows what time I get up."

"Your dad might not, but someone does," Grandma said, scooping a homemade brownie onto a plate. "In Psalm 139, we read that God knows every move we make. Not only did He love us enough to send Jesus to save us from sin, but He cares about us enough to pay attention to our daily routines."

"Really?" Malachi asked. "Well, that's cool."

Grandma nodded. "Your dad loves and cares about you too, Malachi. If you're feeling lonely, maybe you should talk to him about spending more time together. But when your dad can't be with you, remember that God is. He knows everything about you and cares about your life. You can always talk to Him."

–Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you ever feel like no one really cares about you or pays a lot of attention to the things you do? If so, talk to a trusted adult about it so they can help. But know that God cares about you. He knows every detail of your life and wants to hear about everything you're going through. When it feels like no one cares, tell Him how you feel and trust Him to help you.

Today's Key Verse:
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy. (NKJV) (Psalm 33:18)

Today's Key Thought:
God cares about you