Bible Reading: Psalm 119:103; Proverbs 12:18; Colossians 4:6

"My turn!" Junior shouted as he laid the next block. He and his brother were playing a tower-building game, and the tower was getting high. Carefully, he laid down the next piece and held his breath as the tower wobbled, wobbled--then, thankfully, stopped. "Okay. Your turn, Max."

Max concentrated hard as he gently placed the next wooden log on top of the tower. The tower teetered and wobbled, but this time it didn't stop. With a loud crash, all the pieces of the tower came tumbling down.

Junior threw up his hands. "No! C'mon, Max! I was trying to get a record. I should have just done this by myself. You're no help at all."

Max opened his mouth to respond, but then got up and went to his room with his head down.

Later that night, Mom knocked on Junior's door. "Do you have any idea why Max seems a little down tonight?" she asked.

Junior shrugged. "I don't know."

Mom raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Junior sighed. "I did get a little mad at him after he made our tower fall down. It was supposed to be a world record!"

Mom nodded. "I understand that you got frustrated, but Max told me you said he's no help at all. That's not a nice thing to say."

Junior looked down. "I guess not. I'm sorry."

Mom looked thoughtful. "You know, what happened to your tower reminds me of our words. The words we say can either build others up or knock them down. Just like you were doing with your tower, we need to be careful that the words we say build others up with love and encouragement, the way Jesus encourages us with His words to us in the Bible."

Junior nodded. "That makes sense. I think I need to tell Max something." He left his room and knocked on Max's door. "Max? Can I come in?"

Max shrugged. "Sure."

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. Do you want to build a tower with me again?"

Max smiled. "Really?"

Junior grinned. "Yup." And this time, he would also be building with his words.

– Chukwuka Ugobi

How About You?
Do your words build up? Or do they tear down? Our words have an impact on others, so we have to be careful what we say. The Bible tells us to build each other up with words that encourage others and point them to Jesus. He builds us up with words of love, hope, and forgiveness in the Bible, and He will help you build others up with your words.

Today's Key Verse:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. (NIV) (Ephesians 4:29)

Today's Key Thought:
Build each other up

Bible Reading: Proverbs 2:1-6

"We had such cool visitors in our social studies class today!" Ollie told his parents one evening. "Mrs. Berg invited a Vietnamese family to talk to us about their culture and tell us what it's like to try to fit into the American way of life without losing their heritage."

"Interesting," said Dad. "What was the hardest thing for them?"

"Learning English." Ollie got up and took a paper out of his backpack. "This is what their language looks like."

Mom and Dad looked at the foreign words. "I know it would be hard for me to learn this," said Mom. "And life would be confusing and scary if I couldn't talk to people or understand what they said to me."

"It sure would," agreed Dad. "And I'm sure it's just as scary and difficult for them to learn and understand our culture and language." He reached for his Bible. "Time for devotions."

Ollie, who had started to get up, sat back down. "Okay, but you know what? Some of the things in the Bible are hard for me to understand--about as hard as some of these foreign words." He shrugged. "I know our Bible is written in English, but some parts of it still don't make sense to me."

"Tell me," said Dad, "did the Vietnamese family finally figure out what our English words mean?"

"Not all of them, but they understand a lot more now than when they first got here."

"How did they learn the meanings of English words?" asked Dad.

"They studied and studied," said Ollie. "They got help from some teachers and friends too."

"In other words, they were persistent--they kept studying," said Dad. "We need to be persistent in studying the Bible too. The more we study it, the better we understand it."

"And we need to ask for help," said Mom. "Your dad and I can help you understand some things, and Pastor Baxter and your Sunday school teacher can help too. But most of all, God can help. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding about Jesus and the truth of His Word. When we read the Bible, He helps us understand what God is saying to us."

Dad nodded. "As you read and study the Bible, ask God for wisdom, and He will help you."

– Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Is reading the Bible hard for you? Don't give up. Other Christians can explain hard words or verses you don't understand. You can also get a translation of the Bible that uses the kind of language spoken today. The more time you spend in God's Word, the more you'll understand. Above all, ask God to help you understand what He's saying to you.

Today's Key Verse:
The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (NKJV) (Proverbs 2:6)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives understanding

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Karina and her friend Dan rushed into the kitchen after practice. "Perfect timing!" said Karina's mom, taking a pan out of the oven.

"Mmmm!" exclaimed Karina. "That fish smells yummy--Dan? Where did you go?"

"I'm outside!" Dan yelled from the porch.

Karina walked outside and saw Dan putting on his bike helmet. "Wait!" she said. "I thought you were staying for dinner!"

"I was," said Dan. "Until I smelled it." He got on his bike. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Where's Dan?" asked Mom when Karina returned.

Karina shrugged. "Your fish smells delicious, but Dan thinks it stinks. I don't understand--the smell is making me hungrier by the minute!"

"Well, I just cook it," said Mom. "I can't make him like it."

Karina thought for a moment. "You know, Mom, Dan acts the same way when I talk about Jesus. If I just say the word 'church,' he wrinkles his nose. But he's never even tried to go."

Mom stirred the carrots on the stove. "You know, Karina, as a baby, you hated carrots."

"But I like carrots now," said Karina. "What happened?"

"Well, one day I put a carrot on your plate."

"And I ate it?"

"No. But you didn't throw a fit. The next day, I gave you another, and you took a bite. Each day, I gave you more, and eventually you loved them!"

"Nice story, Mom, but what do carrots have to do with Dan?"

Mom dished the fish and carrots onto plates. "I never changed the flavor of the carrots, Karina. I wasn't sure if you'd ever eat one, but if I had stopped offering, you definitely never would have tried it. I had to be patient."

"Are you saying I should invite Dan to eat fish tomorrow?"

Mom laughed. "Not exactly, but I do think you should keep offering Jesus. Be patient. Perhaps one day Dan will understand how much Jesus loves him, and he'll come to love Jesus too."

"I can do that." Karina paused. "Hey, Mom--Dan's favorite food is spaghetti."

Mom nodded. "That's good to know. Next week, we'll have spaghetti after practice."

Karina smiled. "And carrots!"

– Kelly Carlson

How About You?
How does Jesus smell to you? We can't make others love God, but we can love them like God loves us. If your thoughts about Jesus are as wonderful as the yummy smell of your favorite food, share those good feelings. Invite others to learn more about Jesus. Tell them what He's done in your life. Be patient. Pray. Do what you can, and leave the rest to God.

Today's Key Verse:
We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 2:15 )

Today's Key Thought:
Share Jesus with others

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 11:19-20

Riley couldn't believe the man up front was still talking. He sighed and looked at Mom, who was listening intently. She had become a Christian a few months earlier, and she'd been making Riley go to church with her ever since. I wish things were the way they were before, Riley thought.

"So what did you think of the sermon?" asked Mom as they got in the car after church.

Riley shrugged. "It was fine, I guess."

"You're not sure how you feel about all this, are you?" asked Mom.

"I don't know," said Riley. "I just don't see what it has to do with me. My life is fine the way it is." And it was even better before I had to get up for church every Sunday, he thought.

When they stopped at a traffic light, they saw a man holding a sign that said Hungry Please Help. "Do you think that man knows he's needy?" Mom asked.

Riley stared at her. "Um, yeah, Mom. I think he does."

Mom shrugged. "Well, I was just like him once, but I didn't know it."

Riley was startled. "You were?" He knew his mom's life had been tough, but he didn't think it had ever been so bad that she'd had to beg for money on the street.

Mom nodded. "Yep. And then one day someone found me and gave me a whole new life."

"What?" Riley could hardly believe his ears. "Who?"

"Jesus!" said Mom. She smiled as Riley stared at her in confusion. "I'm not talking about needing money to buy food," she said. "I'm talking about being hungry and needy in my heart. I was lost and alone, and I didn't even realize how miserable I was. But when I found Jesus, He made me like new, and when I look back on my old life, I can see how much I needed Him to fill me with hope and joy. That's what Jesus did for me, and He can do the same for you."

Riley was silent for a while before he spoke. "I guess I'll have to think about it some more."

"Okay," said Mom. She parked the car next to a sub shop. "In the meantime, let's go buy that man a sandwich."

– Courtney Lasater

How About You?
Has Jesus given you a new life? The Bible says that if you trust Him as your Savior, you become a new person. Jesus frees you from sin and changes your heart. He helps you love others and fills your life with hope, joy, and peace. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, you can begin a new life today by trusting in Him. (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:
Jesus gives you a new life

Bible Reading: Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 8:28

"That's going to be so cool when it's finished," Kendyn said as she watched her mom sew some pieces of a patchwork quilt.

Mom smiled. "I hope so. This project is very special to me." She picked up a few of the fabric squares. "Do you recognize these pieces of material?"

"They're scraps from dresses I used to wear, aren't they?" said Kendyn.

Mom nodded. "Yes. And they remind me that God's way is best," she said as she began sewing again. "I used to become very disappointed and angry when I didn't get my way. I would get upset with God when He didn't answer my prayers the way I wanted."

"Really?" said Kendyn. "But how do these quilt pieces remind you of that?"

"Well," said Mom, "before you came to live with us, I wanted a baby very much. I prayed that we'd be able to adopt one right away. That didn't happen. Your dad and I prayed and prayed, and we waited and waited. I sometimes felt angry at God for not giving me my way."

"But then you got me," Kendyn said.

"That's just the point," said Mom with a smile. "I didn't get my way. God had His way--and it was much better. He taught us so much during those years when we were waiting, and we grew in our relationship with Jesus. He reminded us that He was with us in our pain and uncertainty and wanted us to bring our worries and sorrows to Him. We learned a lot about patience and about trusting God. And then we adopted you."

"If you had gotten a baby as soon as you wanted one, would you have still gotten me too?" asked Kendyn.

"We can't know for sure, but maybe not," replied Mom. "That's why this quilt is such a special project to me. I'm sewing together little remembrances from your life. As I do that, I'm reminded of how wonderful God's way was--and is--for me."

"And for me!" said Kendyn as she gave her mom a big hug.

– Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Is there something you're hoping and praying for that you haven't gotten yet? Do you feel sad or even angry that you haven't gotten your way? Jesus understands and invites you to bring those feelings to Him. When you do, let Him remind you of His great love for you and trust Him to help you be patient. We can't always understand His ways, but He promises to be with us and help us follow His will for our lives. Trust Him, knowing His way is always best.

Today's Key Verse:
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. (NKJV) (Isaiah 55:9)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God's way