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

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 4:7-13

"Mom, look at this old mirror!" Leah called to her mother, who was going through boxes on the other side of the attic. As she looked in the mirror, Leah giggled at her short, squat reflection. "This mirror makes me look so funny."

Mom came up behind her and looked. "That mirror is very old. It belonged to your great-great-grandmother."

"Can we take it down to show everybody?" asked Leah.

"Sure," said Mom. "I'm sure they'd like to see it too."

That evening, Leah's family laughed together at their reflections in the antique mirror. "It's fun to see myself in this old mirror, but it makes me look all squashed," said Leah. "I'm sure glad we have better ones we use now."

"Yeah," said Noah. "It'd be hard to get ready in the morning using this!"

"Yes, modern mirrors show us much more accurate images of ourselves than this old one," said Mom. "That's the kind of mirror we want to be."

"What do you mean?" asked Noah. "People aren't mirrors."

"In a way, we are," said Mom. "Our words and actions are a reflection of our inner thoughts and beliefs. Since we believe in Jesus and have His love in us, we need to reflect Him in everything we do."

"Yes, and it should be an accurate image of Him," said Dad. "People should see Jesus in us the way He really is--not a squashed reflection."

"A squashed reflection?" asked Noah. "What would that be?"

"Well, people sometimes get the impression that Christians think they're better than other people," said Dad. "Or they may see Christians be unkind or gossip about others. That's not a true picture of Jesus."

"That's right," said Mom. "The Holy Spirit produces the characteristics of Jesus in us, and we need to reflect them in our lives. Do you remember what they are?"

"I know!" said Leah. "Things like love, kindness, joy, patience, and self-control."

"They're called the fruit of the Spirit," added Noah.

Mom nodded. "Those are things people should see in our lives. When we trust God to help us show those characteristics to others, we'll be reflecting Jesus as He truly is."

-Jean A. Burns

How About You?
Do others see Jesus in you? Do you reflect His love when you're talking with your classmates at school or your family at home? Or is your reflection of Him marred by mean things you say and do? Trust God to help you show the characteristics of Jesus so your life can be a true reflection of His love. Let others see Him in the way you live.

Today's Key Verse:
Let us love one another, for love is of God. (NKJV) (1 John 4:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Reflect Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 149:2-5; Zephaniah 3:14-17

"Do we have to go to the grocery store, Mom?" Shiloh asked as her family pulled out of the church parking lot. Shiloh, her brothers and sisters, and her mother had just finished attending their weekly homeschool group. Now Mom informed them that a trip to the store was in order.

"I think you can ask that in a stronger voice," Mom answered. Shiloh knew that meant she'd been whining. Mom was reminding her to think about her tone.

"I've had a sad day, Mom. Can't we go to the store later?"

"Sorry, honey. We have the car today while Dad works from home. It just can't wait," Mom replied.

As the family grabbed reusable bags and headed into the store, Shiloh shuffled behind. Mom sent the other kids to grab bananas, bread, and milk and then put her arm around Shiloh. "What was sad today?" Mom asked.

"Remember the art contest, Mom? I worked hard but didn't even get an honorable mention. Aria won second place, and she told me she barely tried. Then I didn't win anything during the spelling bee either. Stormy thinks she's no good at spelling, but she got third place. I thought I was a great speller."

Mom was about to say something, but she stopped and pointed to a boy walking past them. "Shiloh! Look at that T-shirt!" On his shirt was a Bible verse about how those who find God find favor from the Lord. Underneath were the words, I'm one of God's favorites.

"Shiloh, do you know what it means to be one of God's favorites?"

"Well, I know God loves me and sent Jesus to die for my sins," Shiloh replied. "And since I trust in Jesus, I know I'm forgiven, and now I have a relationship with Him."

"Right! When we trust in Jesus, we become God's children. That means His favor is on us. He delights in us!" Mom said.

"So, all God's children are His favorites." Shiloh smiled. "Just like all your children are your favorites."

Mom laughed. "Yep. You're one of God's favorites--not because you work diligently on your art, and not because you're a gifted speller. But just because you're His."

-Allison Wilson Lee

How About You?
Do you ever wonder whether you're special to God? You are very special to Him. The Bible says He delights in His children. When we struggle to feel good about ourselves, we can remember God's favor is on us--not because of anything we've done, but because of what Jesus did for us. Be encouraged knowing that God takes pleasure in you because you belong to Him.

Today's Key Verse:
For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. (NKJV) (Proverbs 8:35)

Today's Key Thought:
God delights in His children