Bible Reading: John 14:16-17; Hebrews 4:14-16

"Hey, look at this weird plant!" called Andres as he and his fellow campers made their way around the swamp.

"Hmm," murmured Mr. Pete, the counselor. "That's called a pitcher plant! It's one of North America's most interesting insect-eating plants."

"What are all those flies doing down in there?" asked one of the boys as they crowded around and peered into a cluster of leaves.

"That plant has caught them for food," Mr. Pete explained. "It produces a substance--kind of like nectar--that attracts insects. They can easily enter the opening at the top of the leaves, but the sides are slippery and have thousands of tiny hairs that all point downward, and the flies can't get back out."

"So they drown in that pool at the bottom, I guess," remarked Andres. "Those flies think they're getting something good, but instead they get stuck."

Mr. Pete nodded. "That can happen to us too. Sinful things can often look good to us, but they will only harm us if we give in to them. I know that first-hand. When I was a teenager, I started using illegal drugs because I had a lot of tough things going on in my life and I thought they'd make me feel better, but instead I got stuck and became addicted. They only made things worse."

"What happened then?" asked one of the boys.

"My parents sent me to a special hospital to help me get better. It helped a lot, but I still struggled with addiction for a long time after that."

"I'm never trying drugs," Andres declared.

"I hope and pray you won't," said Mr. Pete. "Like all sin, doing drugs will never lead to anything good--sin can only hurt us." He looked down at the flies stuck in the liquid at the bottom of the plant. "Sometimes it's hard to say no to something we know is wrong, but God urges us to come to Him for help. Jesus saved us from sin, and He gives us the power to resist it. We don't ever have to give in--and if we do, He offers us forgiveness and healing." As he spoke, they heard a buzzing sound. A fly was circling the pitcher plant, drawing a little closer with each pass.

-Lorna B. Marlowe

How About You?
Have you ever given in to something you knew was wrong? We all have. Giving in to certain temptations can sometimes lead to very serious problems, but even if a sin seems small to you, like cheating on your homework or talking about someone behind their back, it won't lead to anything good--it will only hurt you and others. Don't get stuck in sinful habits. If you know Jesus, He has freed you from sin's power. Trust Him to help you resist temptation.

Today's Key Verse:
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. (NKJV) (2 Peter 2:9)

Today's Key Thought:
Say no to sin

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39

Tears ran down Makayla's cheeks as Dad drove off. She pulled away from her mother and ran down the street. She heard Mom call her name, but she ran faster. Today was the worst day of her life!

Earlier that morning, Mom and Dad had sat on opposite ends of the couch and calmly spoke the words that tore her world apart. "We still love you, Makayla. We just can't live together anymore." The words had pierced her heart.

Makayla finally stopped running and sat on a swing in the neighborhood park. She could no longer cry; she felt empty.

As the weeks went by, Makayla's life fell into a new pattern. After school on weekdays, she and her mother cooked dinner and spent the evenings together. On Fridays, her father picked her up after school, and she went to his apartment for the weekend. They had fun, but it just wasn't the same as having him home.

One Friday Makayla's father called to say he couldn't come. After that, Dad sometimes came, and sometimes he didn't. When he told her she was going to have a new family--he was going to get married, and she would have stepbrothers and a stepsister--she wasn't quite sure where she fit in anymore.

A few weeks later, Makayla agreed to go to church with Mrs. Mason, who lived next door. The lesson was about the love of God. Makayla listened as the pastor talked. Love comes and goes, thought Makayla. One day you're a family, and the next you're lost somewhere in the middle. Tears began to well up, and when the sermon was over and everyone got up to leave, she stayed in her seat.

"What's wrong, Makayla?" asked Mrs. Mason.

"Love's not like what the pastor said," Makayla replied. "Dad doesn't love us like that."

"God's love isn't like human love," said Mrs. Mason gently. "God loves His children perfectly, and nothing can separate them from His love. He will always be there for them, no matter what."

"Are you sure?" asked Makayla. It would be wonderful to be loved like that, she thought.

"Yes," said Mrs. Mason. "Why don't you and your mother come over for lunch and I'll tell you more about it."

-Suzie Eller

How About You?
Have you been disappointed by your family or friends? God will never fail you. He loves you more deeply than friends or family members--even parents--do. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. His love never changes. Trust in Jesus today so you can know His unfailing love. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT) (Romans 8:39)

Today's Key Thought:
God's love doesn't change

Bible Reading: Psalm 32:1-5; 1 John 1:9

Knox tore open another box and eagerly started unpacking more of his clothes, putting some away in his closet and others in drawers. His family had moved into a new home, and he finally had a room all to himself!

Mom came in to see how he was doing. "What a mess!" she said, looking out the window. Knox looked too. There at the end of the driveway was a huge pile of boxes the family had used to move their belongings. "I'm glad the recycling truck comes today," Mom said. "All those boxes clutter the place up and ruin the look of our new home."

"Yeah," said Knox. He looked at his own pile of boxes near the door. "I've got to get these out there too before the truck gets here."

Knox hurried to empty the rest of the cartons holding his things, then added the empty boxes to the pile waiting at the end of the drive. When he returned to his room, he grinned. With the boxes gone, his room looked much bigger and more inviting.

As they finished eating lunch a little later, the recycling truck came. They all watched as the boxes were loaded onto the truck and cheered as it drove away. Then Dad reached for his Bible. "Our lives sometimes get cluttered and need to be cleaned out too," he said. "Let's read Psalm 32 for devotions today. Would you read it for us, Knox?"

When Knox finished reading, Dad nodded. "When we confess our wrongs, Jesus forgives us and renews our fellowship with Him, and that feels even better than getting those boxes out of our way. If there's any sin that has piled up in our hearts, we need to confess it to Jesus and allow Him to cleanse us. Let's each take a moment to think about what's been going on in our lives and confess any sin that's keeping us from fully enjoying our relationship with God."

Knox bowed his head. There were a few things he'd done lately that were bothering him. Lord, I'm sorry for fighting with my brothers and calling them names, he prayed silently. Please forgive me, and help me tell them I'm sorry too. He took a deep breath and smiled. He felt better already.

-Katherine R. Adams

How About You?
Is sin cluttering your life? When we try to hide or ignore sin in our lives, it can get in the way of us enjoying our relationship with God. Don't let that happen. Examine your heart each day. Is there a bad attitude? A lie you haven't confessed? Anger toward a friend? Whatever it is, confess it to Jesus. Then enjoy the blessing of renewed fellowship with Him--and trust Him to help you ask anyone else you've wronged for their forgiveness too.

Today's Key Verse:
What joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! (NLT) (Psalm 32:1)

Today's Key Thought:
Confess sin and enjoy fellowship with God

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-57

"Grandma, do you really think a pretty butterfly will ever come out of this thing?" asked Grant, bringing a large jar to the sofa where his grandmother was resting. He had caught a caterpillar, and it had spun itself into a chrysalis. "We've been watching it for so long."

Grandma turned her head away and coughed, then smiled as she looked at the greenish sac hanging from a stick in the jar. "Oh yes. Just wait." She patted the seat beside her. "Sit down a minute, Grant, and let's talk."

Grant sat down next to her. "Grant, that chrysalis reminds me of myself," said Grandma. "It's going to change soon, and I am too. The doctor says I won't be here much longer--I'm going to die."

A big lump formed into Grant's throat, and tears sprang to his eyes. "But I'll be so sad if you die, Grandma!"

Grandma patted his hand. "I know, and that's okay--it's normal to be sad when a loved one dies. But I want you to remember that I'm going to heaven. My body will be buried in the ground, but I'll be with Jesus because I trust Him as my Savior. And someday, when He comes back to make the whole world new again, I'll get a new body that won't ever get sick or die. You keep watching the chrysalis, and when you see the beautiful butterfly that comes out of it, think about the wonderful new body your grandma is going to get. Will you do that for me?" Grant nodded, and Grandma gave him a gentle hug.

One night, while Grant was asleep, it happened. Grandma died. When Grant saw her lying so still in her casket, he remembered what she had told him, and he knew he was only seeing her body and that Grandma was with Jesus. Thinking about that helped, but he still felt very sad.

The morning after Grandma's funeral, Grant noticed something that made him excited. "Mom! Dad!" he called. "Look at my butterfly!" Sure enough, a beautiful butterfly had emerged from the chrysalis.

As they admired the beautiful creature together, Grant decided to let it out of the jar and go free. "Just like Grandma," he said as he watched the butterfly stretch its wings and fly away. "Someday she'll have a new body too."

-Matilda H. Nordtvedt

How About You?
Do you know that if you trust Jesus, you don't need to fear death? When your body dies, your soul will go to be with Jesus in heaven. And when He comes again, you will receive a new body that will never die. When faced with grief or death, you can find comfort in God's promise that all those who trust in Jesus will be raised from the dead one day and live with Him forever.

Today's Key Verse:
We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (NIV) (1 John 3:2 )

Today's Key Thought:
Christians live forever

Bible Reading: Matthew 13:31-33

"I'm ready to make bread!" said Katie as she slipped on her apron.

Mom pulled the flour down off the top shelf, then grabbed sugar, a package of yeast, and salt. "We need eggs, butter, and milk."

Katie carried the items from the fridge to the kitchen table, where her mom had already set out a mixing bowl, measuring cups, and an electric mixer.

After measuring flour into the bowl, Katie opened the packages of yeast and sprinkled them over the flour. "Yeast looks like tiny seeds," she observed.

"Yeast is a single-celled microorganism, a type of fungus," Mom explained as she stirred the pot of milk, sugar, butter, and salt on the stove. Mom taught science. She knew that kind of stuff.

When the liquid was at the right temperature, they added it to the flour, along with eggs, and beat it all with the mixer. Then they added more flour, blending it in until it was too thick to stir. Next came the part Katie loved best--kneading. Sinking her hands into the gooey dough, she pushed it this way and that, pressing and folding, until it was smooth and a little stretchy. Then she put the dough into a greased bowl and covered it with a towel.

Mom and Katie played a card game at the kitchen table while they waited for the bread to rise.

"Do you remember what Pastor Turner said on Sunday?" Mom asked Katie.

"He said the gospel--the good news that Jesus came to save us and bring us into God's kingdom--is like yeast."

Mom nodded. "When people tell others about Jesus and let His love be seen in their lives, the good news spreads like yeast does throughout the dough, changing people's hearts. Before long, you can see a change in how people in the community treat one another."

"Speaking of changes…" Katie took the towel off the bowl of dough. "Look."

The dough had doubled in size! Katie punched it to release air, shaped the dough into loaves, let it rise again, and baked it.

"Mmm," said Katie as she bit into a buttered slice. "Perfect!"

Mom smiled. "Just like the world will be when everyone hears the good news and Jesus returns!"

-Bonnie Carr

How About You?
Do you ever think about how little things, like asking a friend to go to church with you, can make big changes? A little yeast causes dough to double and triple in size. A little seed can grow into a huge tree. A little conversation about Jesus can change a person's life. Share the good news of Jesus with others and watch as He changes people's hearts and makes His kingdom grow.

Today's Key Verse:
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough. (NIV) (Matthew 13:33)

Today's Key Thought:
Tell others about Jesus