Bible Reading: Isaiah 46:3-4; 1 Timothy 5:1-4

Jordyn gave her battered old teddy bear a hug before setting him on her pillow. Her brother smirked as he walked by. "Why don't you give that ratty old thing a decent burial--in a garbage can?"

"Oh, be quiet, Aaron," said Jordyn, frowning. "You're just mean!"

"Let's go, kids!" Mom called down the hall. Jordyn sighed and made a face. They were going to visit Mom's Aunt Dora, who lived in a nursing home.

"Do we have to go?" asked Aaron. "We don't like going there. It's boring, and she always asks us the same questions over and over."

"Yes, you have to," replied Mom. "Aunt Dora loves to see you."

At the nursing home, Aunt Dora smiled when she saw them. "I'm so glad you came! Can you stay for a while?" she asked as she fondly patted Jordyn's hand.

"Would you like the kids to draw you pictures while we talk?" asked Mom. Aunt Dora nodded happily, so Jordyn and Aaron got out some paper and crayons.

When Jordyn finished her picture, she sketched a silly cartoon of Aunt Dora. She showed it to Aaron, and they both snickered. Mom saw the picture too, but she didn't find it funny at all.

"Jordyn, I noticed you didn't like it when Aaron made fun of your teddy bear this morning," Mom said when they were driving home. "I guess you still love it, even though it's old and its fur is rubbed off and one eye is missing, right?" Jordyn nodded emphatically. "Well," said Mom. "I love Aunt Dora even though she's old. She raised me after my parents died, and it hurts me deeply to see the two of you make fun of her."

Jordyn hung her head. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," said Aaron. "I guess we weren't thinking."

"Do you know who else loves Aunt Dora?" asked Mom. "God does. He loves and cares for elderly people, and He wants us to honor and respect them even though their minds and bodies may not be as strong as they once were. They have spent their lives taking care of their families and friends. Now it's our turn to take care of them. Will you both please help me do that?" Jordyn and Aaron both nodded.

- Ellen C. Orr

How About You?
Do you ever make fun of older people? Do you get impatient with elderly family members when they can't move fast or when they tell the same stories over and over? God is never impatient with them--He loves them and cares for them just as much as He always did. He wants you to treat older people with respect. When you grow old, He will continue to love and take care of you too.

Today's Key Verse:
Even to your old age, I am [your God], and even to gray hairs I will carry you! (NKJV) (Isaiah 46:4)

Today's Key Thought:
Respect older people

Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:10-12

Jacob rolled a piece of paper into a ball, took aim, and flicked it toward Cody in the row ahead. It hit its mark, but by the time Cody looked around, Jacob was staring straight ahead. Next to him, Mateo snickered.

Jacob was glad Mateo had come to church with him today. Usually he declined, saying church stuff didn't make sense to him, but Jacob had convinced him that today's special guest, a missionary from Africa, would be interesting.

Something the missionary said caught Jacob's attention--but he didn't understand a word of it. Mr. Mensah spoke in one of Africa's tribal languages. "How many of you understood what I said?" he asked a moment later. When no one raised a hand, Mr. Mensah asked his son to translate as he spoke in the foreign language again. His son repeated his words in English, so this time all the kids understood.

"In Africa, we translate the Bible into languages of several different tribes so the people can read and listen to it in their own tongue," said Mr. Mensah. "But people still need to learn what it means, so we translate God's message to them in another way too--through our lives. We not only tell them what it means to know Jesus--we show them by letting His love be seen in everything we do. We help them with their work, treat them fairly, share with them, help them solve problems, and are kind to them." Mr. Mensah looked around the group. "Maybe you have friends who aren't Christians." Out of the corner of his eye, Jacob looked at Mateo. "How can you translate to them what it means to know Jesus?" asked Mr. Mensah.

Cody raised his hand. "By sharing our stuff."

"By forgiving them when they say something mean," someone else suggested.

"By bringing them to church," Jacob said, sitting up a little straighter. But he felt his face go red when he heard someone else say, "By sitting quietly so they can pay attention and hear the message."

Mr. Mensah nodded. "Good! Let's ask God to help us all be good translators

of His Word so others can know who He is and what He's done for them."

- Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Are you a Bible translator? Do your actions reflect the message God gives us in His Word--that Jesus loves us and gave His life so our sins could be forgiven? Or do people get a different message? You don't need to learn another language to translate God's Word. When you treat others with love and do what you can to help them hear and understand the good news of Jesus, you're translating God's message.

Today's Key Verse:
You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…to the ends of the earth. (NLT) (Acts 1:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Share God's message in how you live

Bible Reading: John 15:9-15

"Amen," whispered Grandma after Aspen knelt at her side and asked Jesus to be her Savior. "Now you'll always have a friend close beside you," said Grandma, giving Aspen a warm hug. "You won't see Him, but He is real and He's right there with you. Talk to Him every day, and read some verses from your Bible each day too. Then ask Him to help you understand what He's saying to you."

Aspen nodded. "He'll be with me all the time, right? He'll be my friend?"

"He absolutely will," Grandma assured her.

Aspen sat thinking to herself for a moment. Then she glanced at her grandmother. "Grandma, do you remember my friend Dayken?"

"Dayken!" Grandma exclaimed with a laugh. "You mean the imaginary friend you had when you were five years old?"

"Yes." Aspen laughed too. "Back then, Dayken was my best friend, even if she was just pretend. I couldn't see her, but I really felt like there was someone for me to play with all day long. When I had Dayken, I was never lonely."

"Did anyone ever laugh at you for having an imaginary friend?" asked Grandma.

"Yeah, sometimes. But I didn't care. Dayken was important to me, even though I knew she was make-believe. Of course, after a while I grew out of what Mom called my 'Dayken phase,' and I stopped pretending she was real." She thought for a moment. "But you just said that now I'll have Jesus with me all the time. That will be much better because He's real--not just an imaginary friend, right?"

"That's right, and you'll never get too old for your new friend Jesus," Grandma assured her. "People may not always believe in Him, and they might even laugh at you for believing you have a friend no one can see, but He is very real and alive. As you grow older, you'll see Him at work in your life. He'll be the best real friend you'll ever have. And even though you can't see Him now, He's promised that one day you'll see Him face-to-face!"

-Phyllis I. Klomparens

How About You?
Did you ever have an imaginary friend? That can be fun for a while, but it's only make-believe. Jesus is real, and He wants to be your best friend. Trust Him to be your Savior. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) He'll always be there for you, and one day you'll meet Him face-to-face.

Today's Key Verse:
I have called you friends. (NKJV) (John 15:15)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus wants to be your friend

Bible Reading: Psalm 121

Stella nervously clasped her hands together as the plane taxied down the runway. She had been excited when her parents said she and Brayden could fly by themselves to see their grandmother. But now Stella was nervous. She looked at her brother, who was eagerly watching the ground rush by.

After they were airborne, Stella still didn't relax. "Do the engines sound funny?" she asked. "Should we be flying so high? What if there's another plane in the clouds?" Brayden tried to assure her that everything was fine. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I think they should try to stay away from the clouds."

"Why don't you just go to the cockpit and take over the controls?" Brayden finally asked her. "You seem to think you know more about flying this plane than the pilot does." Stella scowled. "The pilot knows what he's doing," said Brayden, "and I think this is really cool!"

"Me too," said Stella, but she was very glad when they were finally back on solid ground.

"Did you have a good flight?" asked Grandma when she met them at the airport.

Brayden nodded. "I did. But Stella was so nervous she could hardly sit still. I told her she should take over for the pilot." He grinned. "I'm glad she didn't though, because then I would have been the nervous one!"

"I guess so!" said Grandma. "I'm afraid we all lack trust in our Pilot from time to time."

Stella looked surprised. "Are you afraid of flying too, Grandma?"

Grandma shook her head. "I wasn't talking about the pilot of a plane. I meant Jesus, the Pilot of my life. I sometimes feel afraid when things in my life are hard or seem uncertain, but then I remember that Jesus is in control and that He promises to be with me and use my life for good no matter what happens. Trying to make my life work without Him would be like you trying to fly a plane." She gave Stella's shoulders a squeeze. "I think Brayden enjoyed the trip a lot more than you did, Stella, even though you were just as safe as he was. When we trust Jesus to be the Pilot, knowing He has saved us and promises to work everything out for good, our life trips are much better too."

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Are you enjoying your trip through life? Or do you constantly worry about things you have no control over? Remember that Jesus loves you and died to save you so you could live with Him forever. Then trust Him to take you safely through all of life's dark clouds, even when you can't see how things could turn out well. He knows what He's doing and promises to be with you. Trust Him and enjoy the peace He gives you.

Today's Key Verse:
God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. (ERV) (Isaiah 26:3)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus with your life

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-9

The long procession of cars moved slowly from the school auditorium to the little country cemetery. When they arrived there, Evelyn stood between her parents, holding a damp, wadded tissue. She struggled to keep her tears from overflowing again as some final words were spoken.

"Today we mourn the loss of Allison, our beloved daughter, sister, and friend," said Pastor Drew. Allison's parents and brother huddled closer together beside her grave, and several other people in the group dabbed their eyes. "But in our grief and sadness, we can take comfort knowing that she is in the presence of Jesus," Pastor Drew continued. "Just think of how wonderful it is for her now. The illness that caused her so much suffering is no longer hindering her--her pain and sorrow are gone."

For as long as Evelyn could remember, she and Allison had gone to school and church together. They learned about Jesus when they were little and both trusted Him as their Savior. But now Allison was gone, and Evelyn's heart was sad and lonely. The morning sun shone in a clear blue sky, and a breeze scented with pine trees brushed the upturned faces of Allison's mourning classmates. Each carried a brightly colored bottle of bubbles.

The minister's quiet words broke into Evelyn's thoughts. "These bubbles are a picture of the freedom Allison's spirit has today. The Bible tells us that the body is laid to rest in the earth, but the spirit of the person who trusts in Jesus goes to be with Him. Allison's spirit is already at home with Jesus. And like all those who belong to Jesus, she is looking forward to the day of resurrection and the new, eternal body she will receive that will be free from sin, sickness, and death. Because of that promise, we have hope knowing we will see her again."

The pastor lifted a bubble wand loaded with suds and held it for a moment. "Let's release our bubbles together in celebration of Allison's life and the joy she now has in the presence of Jesus." A moment later, all eyes were raised skyward as a clear, sparkling cloud danced in the autumn breeze.

"Goodbye, Allison," Evelyn whispered. She smiled through her tears. "I'll see you again someday."

-Phyllis I. Klomparens

How About You?
Have you known someone your own age who has died? Perhaps you wonder what it would be like to die. It's natural to be afraid of the unknown, but Jesus promises that Christians will never be separated from Him--not even in death. If you trust in Jesus, you don't need to be afraid of dying. When your body dies, you will go to be with Him, and one day He will resurrect all Christians and we will live with Him forever.

Today's Key Verse:
We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Christians live forever with Jesus