Bible Reading: Mark 1:16-20; 1 Corinthians 15:58

"Oh no! A fish got my bait again!" Ryder exclaimed as he pulled his fishing line out of the water. "That's it. I give up!" Ryder laid his pole on the ground. "Okay if I go check the frog pond?" he asked. Dad nodded, so Ryder wandered off through the well-known woods on Grandpa's farm, leaving his father to fish alone.

When Ryder returned a half hour later, Dad grinned at him. "Look, Ryder! I believe I've hooked something!" Dad tugged on his line and brought a flapping, struggling fish to shore. Ryder was surprised to see that there were also several other fish in his pail.

"How'd you do it, Dad?" asked Ryder.

"Just by keeping at it," Dad said. "You'll never catch a fish with your fishing pole on the ground."

Ryder picked up his pole and baited his hook again. As they continued fishing, he said, "Maybe Callum and Max are like these fish you caught."

Dad raised his brows. "I don't think your friends would be very flattered to hear you compare them to fish," he said. "What do you mean?"

"Well, more than once I've tried to tell them about Jesus--I guess I was fishing for people, like Jesus said we're supposed to do. But they never want to talk about God or come to church or anything." Ryder paused. "They don't seem interested at all, so last week I decided I'd just quit. It didn't seem like it was worth it to keep trying to help them know more about Jesus."

"And now you're wondering about that decision?" asked Dad.

Ryder nodded. "Maybe it's like our fishing today. Maybe I just need to keep at it a little longer."

"That's good thinking," said Dad. "Jesus promises to help us share the good news that He died and rose again to save us with others, but it isn't something that can always be done quickly or easily. But don't give up--keep praying for your friends and letting them see what Jesus has done in your life, and trust Him to give you more opportunities to talk to them about Him."

"Okay, I will." Suddenly, Ryder felt a tug on his line. "Dad!" he exclaimed. "I think I got one!"

- Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Have you tried to get somebody interested in spiritual things and gotten discouraged? Have you stopped trying to talk to someone about Jesus or inviting them to church, thinking it's just no use? Don't give up. It's God's job to open people's hearts to the message of the gospel, but He can use you to point them in the right direction. Keep doing what you can to point them toward Jesus and trust Him with the rest.

Today's Key Verse:
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (NIV) (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Today's Key Thought:
Keep on sharing Jesus

Bible Reading: Proverbs 16:17-20; Romans 12:3

"Mr. Hillis read another story from Greek mythology to our class today," said Weston one afternoon.

"Really? What was it?" asked Ander.

Weston grinned. He knew his little brother loved stories. "These stories aren't true, you know. But this one was about a father and son--called Daedalus and Icarus--who were put in prison by the king. One day, Daedalus--the father--took feathers and made two pairs of wings so they could escape and fly away. He fastened the wings onto his son's back with wax--warning Icarus not to fly too near the sun because the heat would melt the wax and the wings would fall off."

"Did they fly?" asked Ander, bobbing up and down in his chair.

Weston nodded. "Yep, they both flew away. But as Icarus flew higher and higher, he started feeling so powerful that he forgot what his father had said, and he flew too close to the sun. Sure enough, the wax melted, just like his father had warned him. The wings fell off, and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned."

"That's horrible!" cried Ander. A worried look crossed his face. "Do you think that could happen to us when we take the plane to visit Grandma next week?"

"Of course not," said Weston. "The plane's wings aren't fastened on with wax."

Dad, who was also listening, chimed in. "Weston's right--you don't have to worry about the plane, Ander. But that story does remind me of what can happen if we try to fly too high in another way."

Weston frowned. "Like in an air balloon?"

Dad chuckled. "No, I'm talking about pride. Sometimes--especially when things are going well in our lives--we might think too highly of ourselves and start feeling powerful like Icarus did. It's a big mistake to think we can get along without God. We need to realize that we're dependent on Him for everything."

"That's why we need to trust in Jesus!" said Ander.

Dad nodded. "Right. We need to admit that we can't save ourselves from sin--only Jesus can save us. But even once we're Christians, we still need to depend on God every day. He promises to provide for us and give us strength and wisdom in everything we do. We need to trust and depend on Him, not ourselves."

- Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Are you proud of your accomplishments--like doing well in school or winning games? It's okay to feel good about a job well done, but when you start depending on your own strength and ability to get you through life instead of God, you're flying too close to the sun. You needed Him to save you from sin, and you need His strength, guidance, and wisdom every day of your life. Trust Him to help you in everything you do.

Today's Key Verse:
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:5)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't be proud

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:22-23; Romans 6:10-11; 1 Peter 1:3

"Dad, you've got to let me quit cello," said Quincy. "That was embarrassing."

"What happened?" asked Dad. "It seemed like you weren't prepared for this concert."

"It was awful! John and Tara were both out sick, so I was the only cello. There was no one to drown out how bad I sounded. I ruined it for the rest of the orchestra. I just want to go home, quit cello, and forget this recital ever happened."

Early the next morning, Dad woke Quincy when it was still dark. "Wake up, Quincy. I want to show you something."

They hopped in the car and Dad drove to the beach. When they got out, Dad laid out a blanket and told Quincy to watch the sky. It was dark.

"Now, tell me honestly--what went wrong yesterday?" Dad asked.

Quincy sighed. "I haven't been practicing cello. I know I told you I've been practicing after school every day, but that's not true. I just said that so you would sign the practice sheet I have to give my teacher."

"I see," said Dad. "No wonder you had such a hard time yesterday."

Quincy nodded. "The others sounded great, so I've been playing softly and no one noticed that I wasn't prepared. I thought I could get away with it."

The sky started turning yellow.

"But then, when the other cellists were absent, the entire orchestra depended on me for that part, and I blew it for everyone."

The sky continued to light up, turning orange and pink as the sun came up.

"Well, it was wrong to make me and your teacher believe you were practicing when you weren't, but I don't think quitting cello is the answer." Dad nodded toward the brightening sky. "The sun rises each morning, ushering in a new day. It gives us fresh light, a new chance. We can learn from yesterday and try again today." He smiled at Quincy. "That's what God's Son, Jesus, does for us too. He died for our sins and rose from the dead to give us everlasting hope."

Quincy grinned. "Like a Son rise! Because God's Son rising from the dead means each new day is filled with hope and light."

Dad nodded. "Exactly. You learned from your mistake, so trust Him to forgive you and to help you walk in His light."

- Kelly Bakshi

How About You?
Have you done something you're not proud of? Have your actions let others down? We all make mistakes and do things that are wrong, but Jesus offers us hope. He died to pay the price for our sins and then rose from the dead so we could be forgiven and change our ways. Be honest with Him about your sins, and He will forgive you. Then let Him help you start over and do what's right.

Today's Key Verse:
Because of his great mercy [God] has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (CSB) (1 Peter 1:3 )

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus brings hope each day

Bible Reading: John 1:5-9; 1 John 1:5-7

"Mom, my aquarium light is broken." Natalie tapped the top of her fish tank. "I guess my new guppy is going to be stuck in the dark."

Mom set her coffee cup on the counter. "But that tank is brand new. It can't be broken."

"It just won't turn on." Natalie clicked the light switch attached to the aquarium cord.

"Let me see." Mom checked under the aquarium. "It's plugged into the wall."

"Maybe the light bulb burned out." Natalie shrugged.

Mom shook her head. "It's an LED light. They're supposed to last a long time. When was the last time it worked?"

"Last night." Natalie clicked the cord switch again. "See. It doesn't work."

"Wait a minute." Mom grinned. "The cord is plugged into the wall, but is it plugged into the aquarium?"

"Um…no!" Natalie found the plug had detached from the light. "It must have wiggled loose when I fed Shimmer his dinner."

"Plug it in and try again," said Mom.

The light clicked on, and Shimmer swished across the fish tank, expecting to be fed.

"That's it!" Natalie laughed. "It wasn't plugged in."

"You know, people need to be plugged in too."

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"A life without Jesus is a life spent in the dark. But when we turn to Him for forgiveness of our sins and trust Him as our Savior, it's like a light turns on in our mind and heart. We finally know who God is, and we become connected to Him."

"Just like clicking on a light switch?"

"That's right, Natalie. But we need to be plugged in, or we'll be stuck in the dark."

"How?"

"When we trust in Jesus, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who lives in us as proof that we belong to God. He connects us to Jesus and shines His light in our lives." Mom placed a hand on Natalie's shoulder. "Would you like to trust in Jesus, Natalie? I can pray with you if you want."

Natalie watched Shimmer glide by in his tank and nodded. "Sure, Mom. I don't want to live in the dark."

-Chanda Griese

How About You?
Have you trusted Jesus to forgive your sins and give you His light? If we aren't connected to Jesus, we are living in darkness. When we trust Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit brings to light who God is and connects us to Him. He helps us walk in the light of Jesus by guiding us in God's truth and helping us show His love to others. Do you have the light of Jesus in your life? If not, trust in Him today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
[Jesus] said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (NIV) (John 8:12)

Today's Key Thought:
Be connected to Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalms 61:3-4; 121:1-8

Dark clouds covered the sky, and thunder boomed in the distance. "Look at Henny-Penny, Mom." Josie pointed to the chicken near a little coop by the barn. "She's clucking for her chicks. I guess she wants to protect them from the storm."

The mother hen stood in the doorway of the coop, clucking loudly, and the chicks ran to her from all directions. Josie watched as Henny-Penny led her chicks into the coop and settled down, covering them with her wings. A heavy gust of wind and a spattering of rain sent Josie and her mother scurrying into the house.

"There's a tornado warning for our area," Dad told them. "I just got a notification on my phone. Let's go to the basement."

Even in the basement, Josie and her family could hear the storm increasing in fury. The wind raged and howled, thunder roared, and lightning flashed again and again. Josie moved close to her dad, and he put a strong arm around her, hugging her close to his side.

At last the storm passed, and they all hurried upstairs, thankful the house was still intact. Josie went out to see if Henny-Penny and her chicks were all right. "They're fine," she reported a little later. She gave her father a hug. "I was really scared, Dad, but I felt safer with your arm around me. I guess I felt like the chicks, safe under their mother's wings."

"Henny-Penny sheltered her chicks, Dad sheltered you--and God shelters all His children," said Mom.

"That's right," Dad said. "You'll go through many kinds of storms in life, Josie. There will be times when things get tough and scary, and I may not always be there to put my arm around you. But just remember what the Bible says about your heavenly Father. Psalm 91 says, 'He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.'"

"God has feathers and wings?" asked Josie.

Dad smiled. "God wants us to know that He's always there to watch over us in life's storms, so He gives an example He knows you and I can understand. We don't have to be afraid when bad things happen because Jesus has saved us and given us eternal life. No matter what storms we face in life, God is with us."

-Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Are you afraid of something--thunderstorms, the dark, a new school, getting hurt? Like storms in nature, the storms of life can be scary, especially if you try to handle them alone. Remember that God understands your fears, and He's right there with you. He promises to shelter you and take care of you. Trust Him to do that, no matter what situation you face.

Today's Key Verse:
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. (NIV) (Psalm 91:4 )

Today's Key Thought:
God watches over you