Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; Colossians 3:23

Why didn't God give me any musical talent? wondered Clara as she watched her family perform in the Christmas program at church. They can all sing so well--all except me.

"It's not fair," Clara said after the program. "All of you can sing, and I can't. I felt dumb sitting there while all of you had lead parts with solos in the Christmas musical. I wish I could sing too."

"Well, we'd like you to join us, Clara, but we don't have a part for a bullfrog," teased her brother.

"Lucas, be nice," Mom scolded. "Clara may not sing, but she has other talents." She turned to her daughter. "Like drawing pictures. That's a special talent God has given you. And you're good at memorizing too. Mrs. Gordon wanted you to recite some Bible verses in the program tonight, but you didn't want to do that, remember?"

"But I want to sing like all of you," said Clara.

When Dad came home from work the next day, he handed Clara a box. "Mom told me you wanted some new paints."

"Thanks, Dad!" Clara tore open the box. "Oh no! There must be some mistake. All of these are blue! I can't paint pictures with just blue."

"Sky and water are both blue. You can just paint those."

Clara looked at Dad in surprise. "Dad, that would be boring! I want to paint more than that."

Dad smiled. "You're right. You need lots of colors to paint beautiful pictures." He handed Clara another box.

Clara eagerly looked over the variety of colors in the second box. "Thanks, Dad. But why did you only give me blue paints at first?"

"Well, I'm hoping you'll see that if all people had the same abilities, it would be like just having one color for painting pictures," Dad replied. "God gives each person different abilities, and when we work together with other Christians to help more people know about Jesus, we give them a fuller picture of who He is and how much He loves us."

Clara nodded. "Instead of wishing I could sing, I'll trust God to help me be the best artist I can be." She smiled at Dad. "And if Mrs. Gordon still wants me to, I could recite some Bible verses at our next program."

-Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Have you discovered your own special talents? Maybe you can't sing or draw, but you might be good at math or sports or telling stories. Or perhaps you're good at putting things together or making new kids feel at home. Whatever your abilities are, keep working to develop them the best you can. Trust God to help you use them to show His love to others and point people to Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength. (NLV) (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Use your talents

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-3; 1 John 4:12

"We'll be late for church if Bella doesn't hurry," Parker complained as he laced up his new neon sneakers. "She takes forever to do her hair! I want to show my friends my shoes."

When they were finally on their way, Bella demanded that Parker close his window so the wind wouldn't blow her hair. "Don't you ever think of anything besides your precious hair?" Parker snapped. Bella tried to kick his shoe in response, but he pulled out of the way so she didn't scuff it.

Before going into the church service, Bella went to fix her hair again, giving Parker time to show off his shoes. They both slipped into the row after the lights had dimmed for worship.

When they got home, Parker got out a magnifying glass. "It's fun to use this to look at stuff. It makes everything look really big."

"Let me see," said Bella, grabbing the magnifying glass from Parker.

Dad took a couple little pieces of paper and wrote something on each. He gave one to Parker. "Look at this under your magnifying glass."

Parker looked at it, shrugged, and handed it to Bella. She saw that Dad had written the word God on the paper. Dad handed Parker the second piece of paper. "Whoa, there," he said when Parker reached for the magnifying glass. "Don't put that one under the glass. It's not supposed to be magnified." Parker read it and handed it to his sister. Written in small letters was the word me.

"I get it!" Parker grinned. "We're supposed to magnify God, not ourselves."

"We can't actually see God through a magnifying glass," Bella pointed out.

"But we can see Him in the love and care He shows us through other people," said Dad. "And as Christians, we can point others to Him. Since we know Jesus, we can show others who He is by reflecting His love. Yet it's easy to magnify ourselves instead of God."

"Yeah," broke in Parker with a grin. "Like doing your hair all the time and making everybody late for church."

"Or grumbling about your siblings and bragging about shoes," added Dad. "While it's good to enjoy the things God blesses us with, we want people to see that He is the focus of our lives, not ourselves. God loves us, and when we help others experience His love, we magnify Him."

-Harriett A. Durrell

How About You?
Do you spend too much time focusing on yourself and what you want? Do you grumble and complain when things don't go your way? The Bible tells us to magnify God in everything we do, and that means reflecting the loving character of Jesus, who gave up everything--even His own life--to save us. Think about how your actions affect those around you, and aim to bring glory to God, not yourself.

Today's Key Verse:
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. (NKJV) (Psalm 34:3)

Today's Key Thought:
Glorify God, not yourself

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Paige and Akira watched the bag of popcorn rotate slowly in the microwave. They waited until a rush of popping sounds died down before taking it out and letting it cool. They were at a church party, and Miss Martin had asked them to make some popcorn for everyone.

Akira stuffed some popcorn into her mouth. "Yum!" But a moment later, she removed a hard kernel. "Oops!" she said. "This one didn't pop."

Shortly before the party ended, Miss Martin called the kids together. She held two kernels of popcorn in her hand, one small, hard, and dry and the other puffed and snowy white. "I was just wondering," said Miss Martin, "how many of us are like these popped kernels and how many of us are like these hard kernels." She smiled at the puzzled expressions she saw on the kids' faces. "You see," she continued, "we're a lot like this popcorn. When we heated it in the microwave, moisture inside the kernels turned to steam and caused most of them to explode. They changed a lot, didn't they?"

The kids nodded. "But how is that like us?" asked Akira.

"Well, when people hear the good news of Jesus and respond to it by trusting in Him, a change takes place within them," Miss Martin explained. "God says they become new people. There's a change in their attitude and desires that leads to love and care for others."

Paige raised her hand. "My uncle was saved a few months ago, and he's really different now. But I'm not sure if I am or not."

Miss Martin nodded. "The question is, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who became human to die for your sins--the wrong things you've done--and then came back to life so you could live with Him forever? Do you want to trust Him as your Savior? When you do, He will put a desire in your heart to know Him better and live in a way that shows others His love." She looked around the group. "Search your hearts. If you're still unchanged, like this hard kernel, you can become a new person by trusting in Jesus today."

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Has your life been changed by God? If you were saved as a young child, you may not have noticed many obvious changes. But if you trust in Jesus, He has put a desire in your heart that an unsaved person wouldn't have--a desire to do God's will and show others His love. Have you experienced that? If not, trust in Jesus today and He will change you and make you new. (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:
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Today's Key Thought:
You can be new in Christ

Bible Reading: Luke 2:8-14; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:15

"Sammy is so sweet!" whispered Hayden, gazing at her brand-new brother. As she watched the baby, Sammy stirred and opened his eyes. He waved chubby little arms in the air. "He's so tiny!" Hayden said in awe. Then she frowned as the baby began to cry.

Mom came and leaned over the side of the crib. "Maybe it's time for a change of position." She turned Sammy on his side and gently patted his back. He soon stopped crying.

"I can't wait till he's big enough to play with me," said Hayden. "But I guess that won't be for a long time, huh?" She looked at Sammy thoughtfully. "Babies are pretty helpless, aren't they, Mom? All they do is sleep and eat."

Mom nodded. "Yes, but before you know it, he'll be much bigger and will learn how to do all kinds of things."

A little later, the baby began to cry again. "I think your brother is hungry," said Mom. "It's time for Sammy to eat." She went to pick him up.

"Mom," Hayden said after the baby was fed and once again fast asleep, "since it's Christmastime, we've been learning about the things that happened when Jesus was born. He was helpless, just like baby Sammy, wasn't He?"

"Yes, He was," Mom replied. "You know, Jesus could have come to earth as a fully grown man or even as a mighty king if He wanted. But He didn't--He chose to be born as a helpless baby, dependent on His family to take care of Him."

"I wonder why?" said Hayden.

"Well, the Bible says Jesus humbled Himself--He didn't come as a rich, important ruler, but in the form of a servant. The Bible also says Jesus is able to sympathize with us because He knows what it's like to be human--He's experienced things we do like feeling hungry or tired or sad. He even knows what it's like to be tempted, even though He never sinned. I think we're able to understand and trust Him more, knowing that He came to earth as a tiny baby, just like we did." Mom smiled. "He did that for us because He loves us so much. Isn't that great?"

Hayden smiled too and nodded as she glanced down at her baby brother.

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Do you realize how much Jesus humbled Himself by becoming a helpless baby? Christmas is a good time to thank Him for loving you so much that He was willing to do that for you. Thank Him for growing up as a human, facing the same temptations you face, and understanding all your needs and problems and questions. Thank Him for all He has done for you.

Today's Key Verse:
There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (NKJV) (Luke 2:11)

Today's Key Thought:
Thank Jesus for coming as a baby

Bible Reading: Psalm 30:5; John 11:11-17, 34-36; 1 Peter 5:7

Dixon gasped as his bike flipped through the air. A searing pain ripped through his palms and knees. "Owww!" Angrily, he brushed away his tears. "I will not cry!" he said aloud. He picked up his bike and hobbled home.

Dixon's hands and knees ached almost as much as his heart did. Ever since his grandpa had died two weeks before, tears had been hiding right behind his eyes. But he was eleven now--too big to cry.

"Oh, you're hurt!" Mom exclaimed when Dixon limped into the kitchen.

"I was riding my bike and I fell." Dixon's voice trembled as he spoke.

"Come into the bathroom and let's get you cleaned up. Then I'll bandage those sore spots."

Mom gently washed away the dirt and then applied disinfectant to Dixon's injured knees. He gritted his teeth as the medicine stung. "I know it hurts a lot," Mom said, "but it's cleaning the wounds so they can heal."

Dixon took a deep gulp of air and sniffed. Mom put her arm around his shoulders and drew him to her. Dixon stiffened and pulled away. I will not cry, he said to himself. Eleven-year-old boys do not cry.

Mom seemed to know what he was thinking. "Dixon, it's okay to cry when you're hurting." Dixon shook his head angrily. "But it is," Mom said. "Did you know that your dad cried when Grandpa died?"

Dixon was startled. "He did? I didn't think men cried."

"Of course they do," said Mom. "Jesus cried when He was on earth, and that means we all need to cry sometimes. Tears are like the disinfectant I put on those sore spots. Tears help us grieve and are an important part of the healing process." Dixon kept his eyes on his stinging palms. Mom put her hands on his shoulders. "God knows we hurt sometimes," she said. "We don't have to hide our hurt. You can cry--God gave us tears to help us. And Jesus tells us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. He understands what we're going through because He experienced pain and sadness too when He came to earth to save us. Wouldn't you like to tell Him right now about your stinging hands and knees--and about how much you miss your grandpa?"

Dixon nodded, and the tears began to flow.

-Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?
Do you refuse to cry when you're hurting? It's okay to cry--God gave you laughter and tears, and they're both a part of life. You don't have to act tough and pretend you're okay. Even Jesus cried, and He wants you to go to Him with all your hurts. He knows what it's like to feel pain and sadness, and He promises to comfort you. So don't hide your tears from Him. He cares for you and wants to help you.

Today's Key Verse:
Jesus wept. (NKJV) (John 11:35)

Today's Key Thought:
It's okay to cry