Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 26-27

"Hi, Mom!" called Adalyn when she got home from school. She found her mother staring out the window, a sad expression on her face. "What's wrong?" asked Adalyn.

Mom sighed. "Aunt Mary called. They heard from your cousin Mackenzie for the first time since she left home."

"That's good, isn't it?" asked Adalyn. "They finally know where she is and that she's okay, right?"

"Yes, she called from some place in Texas," answered Mom. "But Mackenzie is making a terrible mistake. My heart aches for her and for Aunt Mary and Uncle John." Adalyn noticed tears in Mom's eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry for them too, but what can we do about it?" asked Adalyn. "Mackenzie's always had a lot of problems, and she won't listen to anyone." She turned and walked out of the room.

A moment later, Adalyn let out a loud wail. "Ohhh!" she cried. "Ouch!"

"Adalyn! What happened?" Mom hurried to the kitchen where Adalyn crouched on the floor, clutching her foot.

"I slammed my toe into that chair leg," moaned Adalyn. "It hurts so bad!"

Mom got an ice pack for Adalyn's injured toe. "That helps," said Adalyn after applying the ice. "But it still hurts a lot."

"I'm sorry," said Mom. "Just sit still until it feels better." She gave Adalyn a confused look. "But why such a fuss? It's just a little toe."

Adalyn blinked in surprise. "It makes me hurt all over!" she wailed.

Mom nodded and smiled a little. "I know it does. Your cousin is like that little toe. Mackenzie's trouble brings pain to all the members of her family."

Adalyn thought about it. "I guess you're right. But what can we do to help Aunt Mary and Uncle John?"

"We can pray for them," said Mom. "Whether it's for sore toes or broken hearts, Christians can pray for each other as we face sin and brokenness in our lives. Since Jesus brought us into God's family by dying for our sins, the pain and burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ affect us too, whether we realize it or not. And we can also pray for Mackenzie. Jesus loves her, and we can trust Him to help us show her that we love her too."

–Phyllis I. Klomparens

How About You?
Are you sensitive to the feelings of others? Or do you not pay much attention to other people's problems? God wants you to care about what others are going through, just like He cares about what you're going through. Christians are all part of His family, which the Bible calls the body of Christ. When one part of the body hurts, it affects all of us. Pray for those who are hurting, and do what you can to comfort them and show them you care.

Today's Key Verse:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (NKJV) (Romans 12:15)

Today's Key Thought:
Share the pain of others

Bible Reading: Proverbs 11:25; Mark 10:42-45; Ephesians 2:8-10

Dana's mom turned off the main road onto a dirt driveway. A sign next to the driveway read "Hooves and Wheels." After she parked, Dana and her friend Christie climbed out of the minivan and ran to the big gray horse barn.

Mrs. Sikes, the director of the equine therapy program, met them inside. "I'm so glad you two are here! I sure could use help. Would you please groom Starr for the first class?" She pointed to a pony in a nearby stall.

Christie brushed Starr's reddish coat until it looked smooth and glossy while Dana scraped dirt and stones from each of the pony's hooves with a hoof pick. Christie placed a blanket and a saddle on Starr's back and tightened the girth under the pony's belly. Dana slipped a bridle over Starr's ears and placed a metal bit into his mouth. She led Starr to the mounting block.

At the bottom of a wooden ramp, a girl sat in a wheelchair. A woman stood beside her.

"This is Rebecca and her mom," Mrs. Sikes told them. She turned to the mother and daughter. "Dana and Christie are two of our volunteers."

Rebecca gave them a shy smile.

Dana had Starr stand still beside the platform. Mrs. Sikes pushed the wheelchair up the ramp, then she and another volunteer lifted Rebecca onto Starr's back. Rebecca held onto a leather handle as Starr was led to the riding ring. Christie and another volunteer walked on either side of Rebecca as she followed the riding instructor's directions--hands up, reach for Starr's ears, touch Starr's tail. When the lesson was over, Rebecca gave Starr a big kiss.

"I had a great time volunteering today," Dana told her parents at dinner. "Helping people makes me feel good."

Mom smiled. "That's because God created us to love Him, and one way we do that is by loving and serving others out of the love He has shown us. Jesus died on the cross for us, and He also served people in His day-to-day life when He was on earth. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and even washed His friends' feet."

"It's only out of God's love for us that we are able to love and serve others," Dad added.

That night before bed, Dana prayed. "Thank you, Jesus, for loving me first and giving me a fun way to help others!"

–Bonnie Carr

How About You?
Have you had the opportunity to love others by serving them? Did it make you feel good? That's no surprise--God created us to love Him and to share His love with others. Jesus showed us that love by becoming the Perfect Servant for us. He wants everyone to know His vast love, and one way we can share it with others is through service. Help others see God's great love for them by serving them like Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (NLT) (Mark 10:45)

Today's Key Thought:
Love and serve others like Jesus

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:8; John 1:14-17; 14:6; 18:36-38

The screen door creaked and slammed shut as Vivian came out and hopped onto the porch swing next to her father. Dad yawned. "What a day!" he said. "Things at work are changing faster than I can keep up with them." Vivian glanced up when her father mentioned change. "Anything interesting happen at school?" asked Dad.

"Actually…" Vivian paused as she gazed at a big gnarled moss-covered tree in their yard. "Remember when I told you Mr. Conners doesn't seem to believe in God?" Dad nodded. "Well, today he said truth is always changing. He said what was true for my parents or friends might not be true for me. He said that as people change, so does truth." Vivian sighed. "That kind of has me confused. It doesn't seem right to me."

For a moment, Dad didn't answer, and Vivian wondered if he'd heard her. He pushed the swing a little higher with his foot and pointed to the old tree. "Look over there at the tree," he said. "Do you see what it's doing?"

Vivian frowned. "No."

He made the swing go higher still. "The whole tree is moving--all the way down to its roots!" He gave the swing another huge push. "Look at it go!"

Vivian finally got what he meant. "Dad!" she exclaimed. "The tree isn't moving--we are!"

"Right," said Dad, "and truth is like that tree. To say that truth changes is like saying that tree is moving, even though it's been anchored in that spot since before you or I were born."

He pushed the porch swing a bit higher and Vivian giggled.

"In the Bible, Jesus calls Himself the truth," Dad continued. "He offers us a new way of living, a life overflowing with His love, truth, and grace."

"I learned a verse at church that says Jesus never changes," said Vivian.

"That's right," said Dad. "Jesus--the truth--is always the same, and His words remain true forever. People's beliefs may go back and forth. Opinions may change. But truth never changes. God's Word is just as true today as it was thousands of years ago, and its truth applies to our lives now just as it did to people back then."

Vivian looked at their burly tree. "I'll pray that God would help Mr. Connors understand the truth about Jesus too."

–Dawn Yrene

How About You?
Has someone told you that everything changes, including truth? Have you been told that you can determine what is true for yourself? There is peace and wisdom in trusting that Jesus is the truth and that His Word is forever unchanging. Truth is not something that changes from day to day. It's not affected by popular beliefs or opinions. God reveals truth to us in the Bible and in the person of His Son, Jesus, and He never changes.

Today's Key Verse:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (NKJV) (Hebrews 13:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Truth never changes

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:7-16

Emmett kneeled down at the side of his bed and prayed. "Dear Lord, please be with Mom and Dad, and Grandpa and Grandma. Amen." As he got into bed and his mom tucked him in, he had a perplexed look on his face.

"What's wrong, Emmett?" Mom asked.

"Well, I was just thinking about it. How can God be with all of us at the same time? And if I had to choose who to pray for Him to be with, who would I want Him to be with more? Dad has to work on roofs all day and could easily fall and get hurt, and you have to drive in traffic all day and could easily get in a car accident."

Mom smiled. "Emmett, you don't have to choose. God can be with all of us at the same time. He's omnipresent--that means He's everywhere at once."

"I still don't get it," Emmett said. "How can God be in more than one place at the same time?"

Mom walked over to Emmett's bedroom window and opened the curtain to reveal a beautiful night sky with a crescent moon shining. "Do you think Grandma and Grandpa can see this moon where they are in Florida tonight?" Mom asked.

"Of course they can. The moon is so big that people from all over the world can see it at the same time," Emmett replied.

Mom closed the curtain and walked back to Emmett's bed. "Emmett, it's the same with God. He is so big that He can help everyone all over the world at the same time. You don't have to choose who you want Him to be with more--He's more than capable of protecting everyone at the same time." Mom sat down on Emmett's bed. "God is also with those who trust in Jesus in a special way. Even though He's big enough to see and help everyone on earth, He's given Christians the Holy Spirit to live inside them so that we can have His peace and presence with us all the time--even if something bad were to happen to us. He's bigger than we can imagine, and He promises He'll always be with us."

After Mom turned out the light, Emmett went to sleep thanking God for being so big.

–Melissa Yeagle

How About You?
Do you worry that God is not able to watch over all those you care about at the same time? The Bible says His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. That means He is able to handle way more than we can--even more than we can imagine! He is big, and His love for us is so huge that Jesus gave His life so He could be with us forever. Pray for all those you care about and know that God can look after all of them at the same time.

Today's Key Verse:
"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord. (NKJV) (Jeremiah 23:24)

Today's Key Thought:
God is everywhere

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31

"I hate homework," groaned Rosa as she jabbed the sharp tip of her pencil at a long division problem.

Sebastian lifted his nose out of his science book. "I don't mind doing science homework. These magnets are cool! Watch this." He took a nail and rubbed it across a magnet several times. Then he held the nail close to a pin. "See? It picked up the pin just like a real magnet!"

"Wow!" exclaimed Rosa. "Why does it do that?"

"Some magnetism got rubbed off onto the nail," explained Sebastian.

"Can I try?" asked Rosa. She took the nail and held it over a paper clip, giggling as it sprang up toward the nail. Next, she took a clip from her hair and held the nail over that. This time, nothing happened.

"The nail loses its power to attract things quickly if it isn't rubbed against the magnet again," said Sebastian. "That's why it didn't pick up that clip. To keep it working, it has to be rubbed against the magnet over and over."

Rosa returned the nail to her brother and went back to her math while he continued to tinker with the magnet. "This nail is just like a Christian," he said.

Rosa gave him a confused look. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, look! This magnet is like God, and the nail is like us," said Sebastian. "When we get saved, God brings us close to Him." Sebastian illustrated by rubbing the nail against the magnet. "The nail gets power from the magnet, and we receive power from God to love others like Jesus and attract people to Him."

Rosa nodded. "As we let the Holy Spirit's power guide us in how to live, people will see the love of God in our lives and want what we have--we'll be magnetic Christians. But if we focus on our own selfish desires instead of what God wants, then we're like a plain old nail again." She grinned at her brother. "Hey, you're pretty smart to think of that. I'm impressed!"

Sebastian grinned too. "Good! Keep thinking like that. Even though my teacher at church used a magnet like this for an illustration in class last week, that doesn't mean I wouldn't have thought of it myself." He laughed as Rosa threw an eraser in his direction.

–Ellen C. Orr

How About You?
Did you know that you can be like a magnet that attracts others to Jesus? If you know Him as your Savior, you have the Holy Spirit in you. He gives you the power to live a life that points others to Jesus and His love for us. Trust God to help you focus on the desires He puts in your heart, like following Jesus and showing His love to others, so you can be a magnetic Christian.

Today's Key Verse:
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere. (NLT) (Acts 1:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Be a magnetic Christian