Bible Reading: Exodus 17:8-15

"That was a great movie!" Braedon said as he turned off the TV. "But the way people fought wars long ago sure was different than now."

Colton nodded. "When that whole troop of knights on horses came charging down the hill, it threw the enemy into total chaos!"

"Yeah, but there's something I don't get. Why did that king ride out in front waving a big flag?" asked Braedon. "It's almost as if he were wearing a sign that said, 'Hit me!'"

"Actually, it was a banner--a rallying point for the king's troops," explained Dad, who had watched the movie with the boys. "Seeing that their leader was with them, fighting the enemy, gave the whole army courage in the face of attack."

"So instead of making the king a target for the enemy, the banner was more like an 'I am with you!' sign for the troops?" asked Colton.

"Right," said Dad. "Just this week I needed that kind of encouragement myself--and do you know where I got it? From the Bible."

"You did?" asked Colton.

Dad nodded. "I was totally overwhelmed with the work I had to do this week," he explained. "Then I read about the victory God gave Israel over the Amalekites. Afterward, Moses built an altar to God and named it 'The Lord Is My Banner.' So in my mind, I imagined God leading me like a banner, giving me encouragement and strength for what I had to do."

"Did it work?" asked Braedon. "Did it make the tough stuff disappear?"

"It didn't make everything easy," said Dad. "I still had to work long hours, but God gave me the energy I needed." He smiled. "When I focused on God's promises, it was like He was waving a banner, reminding me that He was with me. I remembered that Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross so that I could have a relationship with Him forever, and that means I never have to face anything alone. I can always trust Him to help me and give me strength. God didn't make the battle go away, but He promised to be with me through it."

"Wow," said Braedon. "The next time I face something hard--like exams or teasing--I'll remember that Jesus is my banner too!"

–Lore Wolif

How About You?
What tough things do you have to face? Do you feel like God isn't interested in your problems? He is. Jesus died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever--one that starts now and stretches into eternity. He promises to be with you through everything you face. Trust Him to help you with difficult assignments, comfort you when you feel sad, and show you how to respond to people. He'll be a banner for you just like He was for Moses.

Today's Key Verse:
Moses built an altar and named it, "The Lord Is My Banner." (CSB) (Exodus 17:15)

Today's Key Thought:
God is your banner

Bible Reading: John 15:12; Galatians 6:9-10

In the pouring rain, Millie and her mom ran into the post office to check their mail. They didn't have a mailbox at their home--they rented a box from the post office.

"I'm soaked! Just another thing to add to my horrible day," Mrs. Snyder, Millie and mom's post office box neighbor, grumbled as she checked her mail.

"I'm sorry you're having a rough day, Mrs. Snyder. Would you like to borrow my umbrella?" Millie asked.

Mrs. Snyder shook her head. "I'm already soaked, so I'll just make a run for it."

"See you tomorrow!" Millie called as Mrs. Snyder dashed back out into the rain.

"Why is Mrs. Snyder always so unhappy?" Millie asked her mom when they got back in their car.

"I'm not really sure, Millie, but we can pray for her and continue to be kind to her."

When they arrived home, Millie ran to her room to make Mrs. Snyder a card. It wasn't a birthday, Christmas, or Easter card--it was just an encouragement card that Millie hoped would help Mrs. Snyder have a better day. Inside she wrote, A field full of sunflowers to brighten your day! Your post office box neighbor, Millie. Then she drew a picture of the sun shining on a field of sunflowers.

During dinner that night, Millie told her dad about the encounter with Mrs. Snyder. "I think you were letting Jesus's love shine through you today," Dad told her. "You could have ignored Mrs. Snyder or grumbled back at her, but you chose to be kind. The Bible reminds us that whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. Because Jesus loves us, we can show His love and kindness to others."

After dinner, Mom helped Millie address the card to Mrs. Snyder, and they mailed it on the way to school the next morning.

A few days later, Millie and Mom were checking their box for mail when Mrs. Snyder walked in with a big smile on her face. "Millie, I got your card. Thank you for thinking of me. Those sunflowers made me smile."

Millie grinned at her mom as they walked out of the post office. "Thank you for helping me mail that card, Mom. I'm going to keep praying for Mrs. Snyder every day."

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Did you know that just a little act of kindness can show someone the love of Jesus? The Bible reminds us that we are representatives of the Lord, so when we show kindness to someone, Jesus's love shines through us. Because He has shown His love to us, we can show it to others. So put a smile on someone's face today and shine the light of Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (NLT) (Colossians 3:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Show kindness to others

Bible Reading: Mark 11:24; Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 4:16

Kyle stared out the window, his homework forgotten on the table in front of him. He had been daydreaming, not very interested in solving his math problems, when he noticed a praying mantis perched on the bush outside. Kyle was mesmerized by the interesting creature. The mantis didn't move; he stood still with his front legs held together, looking like he was praying.

As Kyle continued to watch, he saw an insect land on a branch right in front of the creature. All at once, the praying mantis lunged forward and grabbed the insect. Wow, he's hunting! Kyle thought to himself.

He was still watching the praying mantis when his mom walked in.

"Homework done?" Mom asked.

"Not yet, but look at this praying mantis. Is he cool or what? He just caught his dinner a few minutes ago." Kyle proceeded to tell his mom about how the praying mantis had remained still in a praying stance until an insect had appeared on the branch in front of him and then snatched it up.

"That's pretty neat. God sure created some interesting creatures. You know, Kyle, the praying mantis always reminds me of how the Bible tells us to pray. There's a verse that tells us to stay alert and be persistent in our prayers."

"That sounds like a praying mantis waiting to catch a bug," said Kyle.

Mom nodded. "The praying mantis is in his ready stance, waiting with confidence, knowing he will catch his dinner. As Christians, we need to be in that ready stance of prayer too. The Bible reminds us that we are dependent on God to provide for us and help us in everything we do, and He wants us to bring our needs and requests to Him in prayer. Just like the praying mantis is confident he will catch his dinner; we can be confident that God will hear us when we pray and that He will answer us. We are His beloved children, so even when He doesn't answer the way we want, we can trust Him to do good things through our prayers, knowing that He gave His own Son so we could have the joy and peace of Jesus in our lives."

"Wow, that's really cool!" Kyle grinned and folded his hands. "Now I'm in my ready stance too."

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Are you in a ready stance of prayer, trusting God to listen to your requests? You can be confident that He hears you and will answer your prayers. That doesn't mean He'll always answer the way you want, but He promises to use your prayers to do good things in your life and in the lives of others. So keep praying, and be ready to take hold of the answers God provides.

Today's Key Verse:
Never stop praying. (NLT) (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Keep praying

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:6-10

Tired and sweaty, Gabriel came into the house. "Mom! Do we have any more lemonade? It's like a billion degrees out there."

"I'm making lemonade right now," Mom said. "I can't believe the weather we're having this early in the year! I'm surprised you and Max are playing basketball in this heat."

"It's basketball season," Gabriel said, as if that would explain everything. "We're going to sit in the shade of the oak tree while we drink lemonade and cool off."

"Good idea," said Mom. "And since you're taking a break from basketball, why don't you and your brother help me sort these things when you finish your lemonade?"

Gabriel frowned. "Do we have to? I mean, we will if you say we have to, but…" He paused and looked at the piles of new and used items on the table and floor. "You're giving all those things to the organization that helps people in need and tells them about Jesus, right?" he asked. "We've done that before, but then we never hear anything more about it. If it does any good, we never see it."

"Well, we do get reports now and then," Mom assured him. She stared out the window a moment. "But even when we don't, it's like that old oak tree in the backyard."

Gabriel looked up, puzzled. "It is?"

"Your great-grandfather planted that tree as a sapling, knowing he'd never enjoy its cool, refreshing shade on a hot afternoon." Mom smiled at Gabriel. "But he planted it anyway."

"And now we enjoy the shade on hot days," said Gabriel.

Mom nodded and put glasses of cold lemonade on a tray. "We don't always see the fruit of our labors right away--if ever. We help others because of the love Jesus has shown us, and we want them to know about His love too. We can trust Him to use our efforts to bring more people to faith in Him, maybe now or maybe years from now. He doesn't waste any work that's done for Him."

Gabriel picked up the tray with the lemonade and started for the door. Then he stopped and looked back at his mom. "We'll come help you as soon as this lemonade is gone," he told her.

–Mike Dize

How About You?
Do you wonder if the good things you do for others even make a difference? We can't always see how our work for God affects others, but God puts all the things we do for Him to good use, whether we see the results right away or not at all. So keep doing things that show others the love of Jesus. He promises that anything you do for Him will not be in vain--it will not be useless. Trust Him to bless others through your efforts and help more people know about Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (NIV) (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Today's Key Thought:
God's work never goes to waste

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:18-19

Next week we will have a pet show," Ivy's teacher announced to her class.

Ivy's feet did a happy dance. She couldn't wait to bring her dog Mose to school.

Violet waved her hand. "Do you want my mother to be the judge? She knows all about dog shows because my French poodle, Queenie, is in lots of them."

"It's kind of you to offer, Violet, but it's not a contest, so we won't need a judge."

"Queenie can do eleven tricks," Violet said.

Uh-oh. Mose didn't know any tricks. Ivy better get on the ball. Hey, that would be a good one. He could stand on a ball and add numbers. When Ivy said ten plus one, he could bark eleven times. Even Violet's dog probably couldn't do that.

"Violet's poodle can do eleven tricks," Ivy said that night at supper. "Plus, she's a queen. And she came from France, which is a very fancy place."

Ivy plunked her elbows on the table and plopped her chin in her hands. Mose had come from the plain old animal shelter.

Hey, wait a minute. She didn't know where he had been before the shelter.

She sat up straight. "Do you think Mose could be from a royal family?"

A loud snore came from under the table where Mose was lying.

"He doesn't sound very royal to me," Mama said.

Daddy shrugged. "Even kings snore."

"So, he could be a king!" Ivy poked her head under the table. "Did you hear that, boy? You're a royal dog!"

When they finished eating, Daddy got his Bible and turned to a page near the end. "This verse says we are God's children. Since he's our King, that means we're royal. But that's not the most important thing. What matters is that we belong to Him."

"Just like Mose belongs to me." Ivy gave her dog a pat. "It doesn't matter if he can do amazing tricks or if he's a king. I love him because he's mine."

Mama winked at Ivy. "That's the same reason God loves you."

Ivy grinned. "Even though I can't stand on a ball and do math!"

–Martha Hynson

How About You?
Do you ever feel like you need to be or do something special so God will love you? The Bible says we can never earn God's love. That's why Jesus, who is perfect, died for us. When we trust Him to save us from sin through His sacrifice on the cross, we become part of God's family. He loves us more than we could ever imagine simply because we are His.

Today's Key Verse:
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! (NLT) (1 John 3:1 )

Today's Key Thought:
God loves you