Bible Reading: Psalm 19:7-11; John 14:26

Lydia ran into the house waving a paper she'd brought from school. "Guess what? Miss Peterson gave us an assignment to do!" she said, out of breath with excitement. "Her projects are always so much fun!"

Mom smiled. She was used to hearing about Miss Peterson. Lydia liked her teacher very much and talked about her constantly.

"Miss Peterson gave us these pictures of birds, and we have to look them up online and color them in with the right colors," said Lydia. "I love coloring! I'm so glad I got her for a teacher this year. She's just perfect!"

Lydia pulled out her laptop and started coloring in the birds. But when she came to one of the pictures, she was confused. The bird Miss Peterson had labeled blue jay didn't look like the blue jays she found online. Lydia took the problem to her mother. "Can you help me, Mom? Where can I find this kind of blue jay?"

"I think Miss Peterson labeled this wrong," Mom said after looking at the picture. "This isn't a blue jay."

But Lydia shook her head. "Miss Peterson knows birds!" she insisted. "And she said this is a blue jay."

"Just leave it then," said Mom. "You can ask her about it tomorrow."

When Lydia came home the next day, she got out her bird homework again. "Miss Peterson did write down the wrong name," she told Mom. "This is a bluebird, not a blue jay." Lydia sighed. "Maybe she's not perfect--but she's still a really great teacher!"

Mom nodded. "Yes, and I'm glad you like her so much." After a moment she asked, "Do you know who the only perfect teacher is? The only one who never makes a mistake?" Lydia looked puzzled and shook her head. "It's God," said Mom. "When He tells us something, we know for sure it's right. He teaches us through His Word, the Bible, and He gives Christians the Holy Spirit to help us understand the truth of His Word and guide us in how to live our lives as followers of Jesus."

"I never thought of God as my teacher," Lydia said. "But I guess He'd be the best teacher of all!"

-Carolyn E. Yost

How About You?
Do you know anyone who never makes a mistake? Every human being makes mistakes--even the best teachers, pastors, parents, and friends. But God is perfect, and when He says something, you can be sure it's true. He teaches us truth through His Word, the Bible, and guides us in how to live our lives. As you read and study the Bible and listen to what God is telling you, you'll be learning from the greatest teacher there is!

Today's Key Verse:
As for God, His way is perfect. (NKJV) (2 Samuel 22:31)

Today's Key Thought:
Only God is perfect

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:17-24, 32

Diego watched as Lucas walked around the picnic table on stilts and then jumped to the ground. "Wanna try?" asked Lucas. He held the stilts while his cousin climbed up on the picnic table to get on them. "You have to use your arms to help your legs take steps," said Lucas. "Kinda like you're a puppet pulling your own strings."

When Lucas let go of the stilts, they went flying from under Diego's feet. One crashed sideways, smacking Lucas on the side of the head. Mean, angry words exploded from his mouth as he winced in pain and grabbed his head with his hands.

Diego stared at his cousin in surprise. "I didn't mean to hit you with the stilts. I'm sorry."

Lucas sighed. "It's okay. I shouldn't have lost my temper and called you that. I'm sorry too. Here, I'll help you get started again."

Diego wobbled dangerously when Lucas let go of the stilts, but before long he was able to keep his balance for quite a few steps at a time. "Look, Mom!" he said proudly when she came out to watch. "I'm walking on stilts!"

After Lucas left to go home, Diego turned to his mom. "Do you think Lucas really meant it when he said he trusted Jesus to forgive him and save him at church last month? When I fell and one of the stilts hit him, he got mad and called me a mean name just like he used to."

"Well, think about walking on stilts, Diego," said Mom. "You had to go carefully and think about each step, otherwise you'd fall. That's what we all have to do as Christians. We need to go carefully and think about the steps we take in life. When we're not careful, it's easy for us to fall back into old habits instead of walking the new way Jesus teaches us to walk."

"Well, Lucas did apologize," said Diego. "That's new for him."

"We all fall in our Christian lives sometimes," said Mom. "But Jesus forgives us and helps us back up. We need to remind each other of that and help each other. You can encourage Lucas in his Christian walk by being patient and forgiving."

"Okay," said Diego. "I'll do what I can to help him in his walk with Jesus."

-Catherine Runyon

How About You?
Are you patient with other Christians? Or are you quick to point out their faults? Remember that we all stumble and fall in our Christian lives sometimes, but Jesus forgives us and patiently helps us walk with Him. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to support and encourage one another as we walk through life. Be patient with other Christians and encourage them as we all learn to leave old habits behind and walk in a new way.

Today's Key Verse:
Walk worthy of the calling you have received…with patience, bearing with one another in love. (CSB) (Ephesians 4:1-2)

Today's Key Thought:
Encourage other Christians

Bible Reading: Matthew 25:34-40; James 2:14-17

"Dad, can you pass the gravy, please?" said Noelle as she plopped a heaping serving of mashed potatoes on her plate. Mashed potatoes and gravy were one of her favorite side dishes, along with pumpkin pie, which was also on the table.

Dad handed her the white pitcher. "You sure do like mashed potatoes."

"Yeah, I guess I do," Noelle said as she poured the creamy gravy on her potatoes.

"Save some for me," Dad said with a laugh.

Noelle set the pitcher of gravy back on the table. "I miss Mom."

"I do too," Dad said. "But we should be thankful she was able to go and help Aunt Dawn for a while after her surgery. It'd be hard for Uncle Tim to do it all by himself."

"I'm glad the operation went well," said Noelle. "I love Aunt Dawn."

"And you've really helped get things done while Mom is away," said Dad. "It sure is nice to have the extra help around here, just like it is for Aunt Dawn to have Mom's extra help."

"It's kind of like having extra gravy for mashed potatoes," said Noelle.

"What do you mean?" asked Dad.

"Well, it's not like you have to have it--mashed potatoes would be okay if you didn't. But it makes them taste so much better. Just like Mom helping Aunt Dawn--it makes things easier even though Aunt Dawn could have managed with just Uncle Tim's help."

"And you have made things better for us around here," said Dad. "We would have managed even if you hadn't worked harder, but I'm so pleased that you did." Dad smiled at Noelle. "You know, the Bible says that a willingness and desire to help others points to the fact that we belong to Jesus. Because we know Him as our Savior, we have the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with His love. And both you and Mom have shown that love through your actions this week."

Dad got up and went into the kitchen to do the dishes, and Noelle followed.

"I'll help," Noelle said as she began clearing the table.

"Well, I'd sure like the extra help," said Dad. "And it means much more to me than a little extra gravy on mashed potatoes!"

-Sharon Lee Roberts

How About You?
Have you ever given extra help to someone who needed it? Maybe you visited someone who was sick or helped a neighbor with yardwork. Perhaps your family has experienced a situation when you needed help from someone else. One of the ways God shows His love to people is through Christians who demonstrate the kind of love Jesus has for us. Who can you show God's love to with some extra help today?

Today's Key Verse:
Truly I [Jesus] tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (NIV) (Matthew 25:40)

Today's Key Thought:
Show God's love by helping others

Bible Reading: Psalm 8

"My church is having a picnic in the park on Saturday," Caleb told his new neighbor as the boys worked on making a kite together. "Wanna come? There will be food and games, and you can meet some of the kids I go to church with."

"Nah," replied Arjun, tying the last ribbon to the kite's tail. "I'm not really interested in church. My dad says there isn't any God, and I think he's right. When I lived in India, I saw lots of people worship statues that couldn't do anything. Here people worship a God you can't even see, and that doesn't make sense to me either."

Caleb's heart sank. How can I explain that God is real, even though we can't see Him? he wondered.

"Let's see if this masterpiece will fly," Arjun said, changing the subject.

Together the boys ran across the yard. Caleb felt the string pull tight as Arjun let go of the kite. He turned to watch it soar high into the air. "Wow!" exclaimed Arjun. "We did it!"

After a while, Caleb handed the string to his friend. "Here, you try it for a while." Arjun eagerly took the line.

For a while the boys flew their new kite, passing it back and forth. At last Arjun pulled it in. "That was so cool! It was almost like someone was holding it up there."

Caleb grinned. "Yeah. Who do you suppose was doing that? I didn't see anybody or anything holding it up."

Arjun laughed. "You can't see the wind, but it holds up the kite and keeps it flying. You can't see it, but you can see what it does!"

"Just like you can't see God," Caleb pointed out. "But He's there too, and you can see what He does. Just look at everything in nature--the sun, moon, trees, birds, your dog, your family, yourself. God made them all. And you can see what He does in people's lives too. People at my church are always talking about how knowing Jesus has changed them and how He fills them with love and peace. Could anyone else do that?"

Arjun was silent for a moment. "Maybe you're right," he said at last. "I'll have to think about it."

-Jean A. Burns

How About You?
Do you find it hard to believe in God because you can't see Him? You can see what He does in nature, like making the wind blow and the sun shine, and you can see all the wonderful things He's created. You can also see what He does in people's lives when they have a relationship with Jesus. He helps them share His love with others and gives them joy, comfort, and peace. You can't see God with your eyes, but He is real.

Today's Key Verse:
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. (NLT) (Psalm 8:1)

Today's Key Thought:
God is real

Bible Reading: Job 23:8-10; Romans 8:28

Soren quietly stepped onto the back porch where his grandpa was enjoying the sunshine. He watched as Grandpa began to shape the mustache of the wooden cowboy in his hands with his favorite knife.

"Carving again, Grandpa?" Soren asked.

Grandpa looked up and smiled. "Good to see you, Soren. Have a seat and tell me about your day."

Soren frowned and plopped down in a brown folding chair. "School was okay, I guess. Math is weird. I can't figure out this geometry stuff Mrs. Thompkins is trying to teach us. She keeps trying to explain it, but it's hard to pay attention, since I get kind of distracted sometimes."

"Thinking about the treatments your mom is going through?" asked Grandpa.

Soren nodded. "And Jasper told me today that he's moving because his dad got a new job. We won't be able to play together anymore. He'll be living too far away." Soren put his chin in his hands and frowned. "It seems like everything is going wrong all at once."

Grandpa slowly scratched his chin and looked at the wooden figure in his hand. "Soren, when I decide to carve something, what do I start with?"

"A block of wood," Soren replied.

"Right. I have to cut it, sand it, and carve it to make it a cowboy, or a bird, or whatever else I want it to be." Grandpa blew tiny flakes of wood off the cowboy's face. "That's what God is doing with you, buddy. Just like I work hard carving details on a figure to make it look just right, God is shaping you into the person He wants you to be, and He even uses the difficulties you face in life to do that. I know you're going through some tough times, but He can use them to teach you about patience and trust and other things that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. He loves you and promises to be with you all through your life--even in difficult times."

Grandpa etched a couple more lines into the cowboy's mustache, then handed it to Soren. "Finished. He's all yours."

Soren slowly ran his fingers across the cowboy's delicate wooden face and smiled.

-Mike Dize

How About You?
Are you facing a lot of problems right now? Maybe you're having trouble at school or someone you love is sick. Dealing with problems is never easy, but Jesus promises to be with you and can use those things to help you learn to trust Him and grow in your faith. Remember that He is with you in tough situations, and trust Him to use them to help you grow in your relationship with Him.

Today's Key Verse:
We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Let God shape you