Bible Reading: Matthew 18:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Mom, I'm really worried about Charlotte," Anna said as she sat down at the table. Charlotte and Anna were best friends and did everything together.

"What's going on?" Mom asked as she added ingredients into the mixer.

"Well, she's been having a lot of headaches lately. I'm worried there might be something seriously wrong with her. What if she has cancer or something?"

Mom plopped a scoop of raw cookie dough onto a tray. "It sounds like you've been doing a lot of worrying about this."

"It's all I can think about, Mom! I'm just so afraid something bad is going to happen to Charlotte. I can't imagine life without her."

Mom brought the tray of cookie dough to the table and sat down. "Have you prayed about it?" she asked.

"Um, well--no," Anna said.

Mom sighed. "Well, I've been pretty worried too lately. Tomorrow is your school bake sale, and I'm worried these cookies won't get baked in time!"

Anna glanced at the clock. "Mom, you have plenty of time. They don't take that long to bake--just put them in the oven."

"I guess I could, but I'd rather just sit here and worry about it," Mom said.

Anna gave her mom a puzzled look. "Mom, you're being silly!"

Mom smiled. "You're right, it's silly to sit here and worry when there's something I could do about the problem. But you're doing the same thing. You're not helping your friend at all by worrying about her. You can help by doing something about it and praying for her."

Anna knew her mom was right, and the two took a moment to pray for Charlotte. Then Anna helped bake the cookies and bag them up for the sale.

The next day Anna came home smiling. "Mom, guess what! Charlotte's mom took her to the doctor yesterday, and it turns out she's been having headaches because she needs glasses--not because she's dying from some disease."

Mom smiled. "So all that worrying for nothing?"

Anna nodded. "You were right, Mom. I should have done something about it and prayed for her in the first place."

–Melissa Yeagle

How About You?
When you or someone you know has a problem, do you worry about it? Why not do something about it instead--pray! God is in control of everything, and He loves you so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. You can bring all your worries and concerns to Him. He'll always do what's best and be with you through everything.

Today's Key Verse:
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (NLT) (Philippians 4:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Pray about your worries

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:27, 159-160; 2 Timothy 3:14-17

The sun was just poking its head over the treetops when Savannah and her mother left for a walk in the woods near their new home. "I didn't understand what Dad read in the Bible this morning," Savannah said. "Why can't we just skip the parts of the Bible that don't seem to say anything important?"

Mom was about to reply when Savannah spotted some interesting bushes along the path. "Look, Mom. Those are some kind of berry bushes, aren't they?"

Mom stopped and peered at the bushes. "I think they might be, but I don't see any fruit on them."

Savannah reached out and lifted some of the leaves. "Here! Underneath the leaves."

"You're right!" said Mom. "Those are wild blackberries! They'd taste great on our cereal--or just as a snack. How about running back to the house and getting a bucket so we can pick some?"

Savannah eagerly ran home and returned with a pail, and she and Mom began to gather the ripe, luscious fruit. "I'm glad your sharp eyes noticed these," said Mom. "I saw the green leaves, but I didn't see what was hidden underneath them." She dumped a handful of berries into the bucket. "Maybe that's the answer to the question you asked a while ago."

"You mean about skipping parts of the Bible?" asked Savannah.

Mom nodded. "When we read the Bible, we don't always understand every important truth right away--just like I didn't spot those berries. But when we take time to think about what a verse or passage says, it can help us see how it fits into God's story of how He continues to love us even though we sin. Everything in the Bible points to God's gift of Jesus, who became human and died and rose again to save us. Every passage can teach us something about Jesus and our need for Him. That's why we read all the parts of the Bible."

"When we get back home, maybe I should read that Bible passage from this morning again," said Savannah.

"Why don't we read it together?" suggested Mom. "We can eat fruit from this bucket while we look for spiritual fruit in the Bible!"

–Judith K. Boogaart

How About You?
Are some parts of the Bible hard for you to understand? The Bible is full of poems, stories, and events that all reveal God's faithful love. Each one is important, but some can be difficult to understand on our own. That's why it's important to study the Bible with other Christians and depend on God for help. When you come across something that's confusing, ask God to give you understanding, and ask a trusted adult to help you too.

Today's Key Verse:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (NLT) (2 Timothy 3:16)

Today's Key Thought:
Learn from all of the Bible

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:28-30

Julian cheered in excitement at the tractor pulling contest. One of the contestants--a friend of Julian's family--revved the engine as his tractor strained to pull the heavy load. It inched along, then gathered speed to the finish line. "He made it!" Julian shouted, and he clapped along with others in the crowd.

"The next load he has to pull will be heavier," Grandpa said.

The driver revved the engine again, and it moved slowly forward. The load behind the groaning tractor was dragged at a snail's pace to the finish line. Julian shot up from his seat and cheered.

He grew anxious as he watched the workers add more weights to the next load. The driver powered up the engine, but nothing happened. Again the engine roared, but the load didn't budge. The driver hunched over the wheel as if to coax the tractor into one last try before time was up. Julian felt like he was in the contest himself, and he yelled encouragement as the tractor began to inch forward. Slowly, slowly it went, until at last it reached the finish line. It had moved a heavier load than any other tractor. The crowd went wild.

Over hot dogs and pop, Grandpa and Julian talked about the contest. "It made me think about the struggles we have in life," said Grandpa. "Sometimes our loads are almost too heavy for us to pull."

Julian nodded, thinking about the hard time he had in reading class at school. He just couldn't read as well as the other kids. After getting his last report card, Julian had gone to his room and cried.

Grandpa smiled at him. "Way back when I was your age, I found out that Jesus wants to help us pull heavy loads--the hardships we face in life. So I ask Him to help me whenever I feel like things are just too much. The problems don't always disappear, but they seem lighter when I remember that Jesus, who took the burden of my sin by dying on the cross, wants to help me with any struggles that are weighing me down."

Julian smiled back at Grandpa, knowing what he had to do. He would talk to Jesus about his struggle to read. He needed help with his heavy load.

–Carolyn E. Yost

How About You?
Does something in your life seem too heavy to bear? Talk to Jesus about it. He wants to help you with your troubles. Maybe He'll take the burden away--but maybe not. Perhaps He'll simply comfort you and make your burden easier to bear as you trust Him with it. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, ask Him for help and trust that He'll lighten your load.

Today's Key Verse:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus lightens loads

Bible Reading: Exodus 19:3-6; Isaiah 40:27-31

Annie leaned her forehead against the cool windowpane of the airport in Sicily. She sighed as she watched yet another large airplane taxi down the runway and fly off into the big blue sky. Her family had been detoured on the way back to the States from Africa where they were missionaries, and it felt like they had been stuck in the airport for weeks instead of days.

"Vroom, vroom!" Her younger brother, Bryce, flew past her with his arms extended and accidentally bumped her elbow.

"Knock it off, Bryce!" Annie said irritably.

"Hey, what's the problem?" Dad asked, coming over.

Annie sighed again. "It feels like we've been at the airport forever and God has forgotten about us!"

Dad nodded thoughtfully. "I know it feels that way right now, but God is working out just the right flight for us to get on." He looked out the airport window as another plane took off. "Did you know the Bible talks about wings?"

Bryce stopped making airplane noises and looked at Dad. "Like airplane wings?"

Dad smiled. "These are a different type of wings. Do you remember the story in the Bible about the people of Israel getting ready to go into the land God had promised them? They had waited a very long time--longer than we've waited here! God reminded them of how He had taken care of them before, just like an eagle takes care of its young by carrying them on its wings. And God will always take care of us too. Jesus died and rose from the dead to make us God's children, and He won't ever forget about us. He promises to help us in every situation."

"Wow. I never thought of it like that before," Annie said.

"Me neither," said Bryce.

"Speaking of wings," Dad said, "I think I'll go make another phone call and see if we'll be able to get on one of those airplanes today."

As he walked away, Bryce got a silly look on his face. "Hey, Annie, what do you think the eagle said to Dad when the phone rang?"

Annie shrugged. "I don't know. What?"

"Wing, wing!"

Bryce and Annie's laughter echoed in the airport as they relaxed, knowing both their dad and their heavenly Father were taking care of them.

–Kelly Hope

How About You?
Have you ever been stuck in a hard situation and wondered if God had forgotten about you? It may feel like that sometimes, but He promises to care for you and work things out for the best. The next time you hear the sound of an airplane or see a bird flying in the sky, remember that God sent His own Son to save you and promises to always take care of you.

Today's Key Verse:
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. (NIV) (Exodus 19:4)

Today's Key Thought:
God takes care of you

Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:1-4

Max opened his car window and smelled pine trees. Mom and Dad sang their old camp song about a cowboy and his one-eyed horse. Max usually sang along. But today the lyrics caught in his throat.

Mom and Dad's stories of camp made Max feel like he knew the place even though he'd never been there. He couldn't wait to come to Bible camp. But now as camp came into view, he wasn't so sure.

"It's too bad the other boys from church couldn't come with you," Mom said.

Dad parked the car and patted Max on the shoulder. "You're going to love it here!" Max felt funny inside as he watched Mom and Dad drive away.

Max met his counselor, who showed him around his cabin. "Okay, Mike, here's your bunk."

He doesn't even know my name, Max thought. Nobody here does. I don't belong here.

The counselor shouted, "Campers! Time to meet out by the lake. Bring your Bibles. Move out!"

In the noisy crowd, everyone seemed to be with friends. No one spoke to Max.

At the beach, the camp director blew a whistle and shouted, "Bibles up! First one who turns to Isaiah 43:1, whistle the cowboy song!" A moment later Max and most of the other boys started whistling. The director pointed to Max. "Read the last part of verse one."

Max read, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine."

The director nodded at Max and said, "Even though I don't know this camper's name, God does. And God knows each of your names. He knows all about you because He made you. He sent His Son, Jesus, to save you. This is the theme verse for camp this week, so we're going to memorize it and talk about it every day. It shows that God loves you and wants you to belong to Him."

Max prayed silently, "God, I know I belong to You--thank you for saving me and always being with me. Please help me feel like I belong here too."

On the way back to the cabin, a boy walked up to Max. "You must be new here," he said. "I'm Oliver."

Max smiled and said, "My name is Max."

–Laura Roesler

How About You?
Do you ever feel like an outsider and that people around you don't really know you? No one knows you better than God. He made you and wants to have a relationship with you because He loves you. Whenever you feel like you don't belong, remember that God wants you to belong to Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Trust Him to be with you when you feel alone and afraid.

Today's Key Verse:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. (CSB) (Isaiah 43:1)

Today's Key Thought:
God knows you and wants you