Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 3:15-19

"Mom, what's wrong with these ice cubes?" asked Nora. "They're all brown!"

Mom glanced at the dark cubes and grinned. "I used iced tea to make those," she explained. "I made them for Grandpa. You know how he loves good, strong iced tea on hot summer days."

Nora smiled at her grandfather, who sat at the kitchen table. She knew he disliked his tea watery and weak, the way it got when too many ice cubes melted in it. She popped several of the brown cubes into a tall glass and poured fresh iced tea over them. "Here you go, Grandpa. Good, strong tea, unspoiled by ordinary ice cubes."

"Thanks, Nora," said Grandpa, taking the tea. "Just the way I like it." He took a big gulp and let out a sigh. "Now, what can these ice cubes teach us about living the Christian life?"

Mom and Nora exchanged knowing glances. Grandpa seemed to be able to find a spiritual lesson in almost anything.

"Well," said Nora, "I guess ice cubes made out of tea keep your iced tea tasting strong, and we want to stay strong as Christians, right?"

"Right," said Grandpa. "When you use regular ice cubes, they melt and the tea becomes diluted--weak and tasteless. We don't want to be diluted Christians, do we?" He took another sip of tea. "What kinds of things might water us down if we're not careful?"

"Hmm," said Nora. "Maybe going along with what everyone else is doing just to fit in?"

Grandpa nodded. "When we allow the opinions of others to determine what we think and do instead of God, it makes us weak and ineffective. The Bible tells us to separate ourselves from the world. That means we should think and act differently from those around us who don't know Jesus. Instead of looking for worth and contentment in the things of this world, we need to look to Jesus, who loves us so much He died on the cross to save us."

Grandpa finished his tea and then shook the glass, making the brown ice cubes at the bottom rattle. "You can't follow both Jesus and the world--one will eventually water down the other. We need to remember that we belong to Jesus and trust Him to help us stay strong as we follow Him."

-Lois A. Teufel

How About You?
Can others tell you're different by the way you live? While the world may tell us that what we own or what people think of us is what gives us value, the Bible tells us to look to Jesus for our worth--and we're worth so much to Him that He died to save us. Don't water down your life with the things of this world. Follow what Jesus says and trust Him to help you reflect His love in your life.

Today's Key Verse:
Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. (NKJV) (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Follow Jesus, not the world

Bible Reading: Psalm 25:16-22; Matthew 11:28; Philippians 4:13

"What are you doing?" asked Jonie, astonished to see her grandmother spilling beans into a pie crust.

"I'm using uncooked beans as weights so my crust will bake evenly," answered Grandma. She slid it into the oven and set the timer.

Jonie laughed. "I thought you were making bean pie!"

Grandma smiled. "No, beans add pressure so no air gets inside to puff up the pastry. My crust will bake beautifully once the real filling replaces the beans." She pointed at a bowl of green apples. "There's our filling. Would you like to peel those?"

"Sure. Apple pie sounds way better than bean pie!" Jonie got to work with the peeler. "I love your baking, Grandma. It never affects my allergies."

Cutting the fruit, Grandma said, "It must be hard keeping track of what's in your food."

Jonie raised her hand. Counting on her fingers, she listed, "Nuts, eggs, tomatoes, and seafood." She returned to her task. "It's not fair. Some people only have one allergy or none at all."

The timer beeped. Using oven mitts, Grandma removed the crust. She dumped the beans into a bowl. Setting the crust aside, she returned to slicing the apples. "We all have difficult situations--burdens--that weigh us down. Jesus knows our burdens. When He came to earth, He experienced hard things too. We can trust Him to give us the strength we need to face them, even if we don't understand why." She added sugar and cinnamon to the fruit. "Whether our burdens are big or small, Jesus is with us, and we can rely on Him for help. He willingly took on the biggest burden of all--our sin--so we could be free from all our troubles one day when He comes again." She stirred salt and lemon juice into the mixture. "Sometimes it may seem unfair to have difficulties, but they can make us stronger and prepare us to become who God intended us to be."

As Grandma transferred the apple filling to the crust, Jonie exclaimed, "It's like those beans! Your pastry needed them to get ready for the apples, otherwise it wouldn't become a delicious apple pie."

Grandma's smile widened. "Right. The beans helped the crust take shape for something better--the apples."

"Don't forget the ice cream!" added Jonie.

-Elena Dee

How About You?
Are you facing difficulties? Do you wonder why you have them in the first place? Jesus knows your challenges and why you have them. He can use your burdens to help you grow in your relationship with Him and shape you into the person you were meant to be. Rely on Jesus to give you strength to face your troubles. He is with you every step of the way.

Today's Key Verse:
You can have peace in me [Jesus]. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world! (ERV) (John 16:33 )

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus knows your troubles

Bible Reading: Genesis 6:17-24

"Can I go out and play now?" Dylan asked.

"Can I go too?" asked Molly, Dylan's younger sister.

Mom nodded, and the kids took their plates to the sink and then hurried out the door.

Dylan went straight for his bike that he had thrown in the middle of the yard when his mom had called them in for dinner. Molly went to the driveway and continued working on her chalk drawing. They were not outside long when they heard the rumbling of thunder. Soon rain started to fall fast and hard.

"Molly! Dylan!" Mom called. "Come inside before you get soaked!"

Molly knew there was nothing she could do to save her chalk drawing, so she quickly gathered her chalk and ran into the house. Dylan, however, continued to ride his bike in the rain.

"Dylan!" Mom called again. "It's not safe to be out there when there's lightning. You need to come in right now."

Just then a huge bolt of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Dylan quickly threw down his bike and ran inside.

"Wow, that was scary!" Dylan said, water dripping from his clothes.

"You should have listened to me the first time I called," said Mom. "Go put on your pajamas and then come to the living room for devotions." This time Dylan was quick to do what he was told.

"I thought tonight we would read about Noah's ark," Mom said, opening her Bible. "Dylan, when I was watching you out in the storm, it made me think of all those people long ago who ignored the warning that a huge storm was coming. But when God told Noah to build an ark so he and his family could be saved from the flood, Noah listened."

"The storm outside isn't going to cause a flood like that, is it?" asked Molly.

Mom smiled and shook her head. "No, but the story of Noah's ark reminds us that God is calling all sinners to come to Him and be saved from the storm of sin, and we need to listen to His call. We can only be saved by Jesus, who washes away our sin when we turn to Him for forgiveness."

-Melissa Yeagle

How About You?
Have you listened to God's call? Have you trusted Jesus to forgive your sins and give you eternal life? He wants you to turn to Him and be saved. God loves you so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to die for you. Don't let anything stop you from listening to His call. Trust Him to save you today. (See "Have You Heard the Good News?" on page 102.)

Today's Key Verse:
Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (NLT) (Acts 3:19)

Today's Key Thought:
Listen to God's call

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10

"I can't see anything," Joey complained at the concert. Everyone was standing in front of them and he just wasn't tall enough to get a view of the stage.

His dad crouched down beside him. "Get up on my back!" he shouted above the music.

Joey quickly did as he was told and could finally see the band. "Wow!"

"Too bad we don't have Zacchaeus's tree," Dad said.

It was too loud to talk much in there, so Joey didn't ask his dad what he meant right then.

The next day, when he and Dad were getting the grill going for supper, Joey brought it up again. "What did you mean yesterday about Zacchaeus's tree?"

Dad lit the grill and turned to him. "Don't you remember the story of Zacchaeus?"

"Not really," Joey said.

"Well, we have time for it now." Dad sat in a lawn chair and Joey pulled one up beside him. "When Jesus was living on earth, many people wanted to see Him and hear Him speak," Dad explained. "He drew crowds everywhere He went, and one day a man named Zacchaeus was in the crowd."

Joey glanced at his dad. "And he had a tree?"

"He climbed a tree," Dad said. "Zacchaeus was a short man, so he couldn't see from where he was standing. Jesus noticed what he did and went over and told him He'd eat at his house that day."

Dad got up and checked on the grill before continuing. "What's cool about the story is that Zacchaeus hadn't been a good man. He was a tax collector and had taken more than he should have from people. But meeting Jesus changed him, and he decided he wanted to follow Jesus and live a good life, so he gave back to those he took from even more than he owed." Dad smiled. "Stories like that remind me that Jesus can change anyone's heart."

Joey made a face. "Even people like the bullies down the street?"

Dad nodded. "Jesus changed us even though we were sinners, and He can change them too. God can change anyone and help them grow into a better person." Dad touched the top of Joey's head. "Speaking of growing, maybe you won't need a Zacchaeus tree the next time we go to a concert."

Joey grinned. "Maybe not."

-Bethany Acker

How About You?
Do you believe anyone can change? The story of Zacchaeus in the Bible shows us they can. When Zacchaeus met Jesus and saw that Jesus cared about him even though he was a tax collector, his heart was changed. Jesus can do that for you too. He can do it for anyone you know who seems like they'll never change. He changes hearts and lives every day!

Today's Key Verse:
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (CSB) (Ezekiel 36:26)

Today's Key Thought:
God can change anyone

Bible Reading: Psalm 71:15-18; 1 Peter 2:9

"Little kids are so funny!" Brayden said, laughing as he came into the kitchen. "Finn and his friend Arlo are playing war. They're upstairs building a bunker in the bathtub--filling it with pillows. We'd better be careful, Dad! According to them, there are bombers overhead, submarines all around the house, and tanks roaring up the street!"

Dad chuckled. "I see what you mean."

"But get this, Dad!" said Brayden. "I was standing outside the bathroom, and I heard Finn say, 'Are you going to heaven, Arlo?' And Arlo said, 'I don't know.' Then Finn said, 'We could die in this battle, and it's real important to know you're going to heaven to be with Jesus when you die. So repeat after me!' And, Dad, he led Arlo in a prayer to accept Jesus."

"That's amazing!" said Dad.

"But, Dad! The danger isn't even real!" said Brayden.

"Well, the war they're preparing for in the bathtub certainly isn't real," Dad agreed. "But I'm proud my little boy loves his friend enough to want him to be safe--even in a bathtub war. Finn's right--it's important to know you're going to heaven to be with Jesus. Any one of us could die at any time."

"That's true," Brayden said. "I guess you can learn things from a little brother. I know I could do a better job of talking to my friends about Jesus." He frowned. "I've invited Angelo to church events, but I don't think I've ever asked him straight out if he's saved. I guess I should talk to him about it, but I'm not sure how to get started."

"Why don't you start by talking to God about it?" Dad suggested. "I'll do that too. Then come back and we'll see what ideas we can come up with."

Brayden nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Dad." He started to leave, then turned back. "But what about Arlo? Do you think he's really saved now?"

"I don't know," said Dad. "If he truly trusts in Jesus, he is. I'll talk to him about it and make sure he understands who Jesus is and how he can know he's going to spend eternity with Him."

-Elsie Dodge

How About You?
Do you know if your friends have trusted Jesus as their Savior? Are they going to spend eternity with Him? It's an important decision for them to make, and no one can be certain of how much time they have left on earth to make that decision. Talk about it with them. Tell them how Jesus has saved you and what He's done in your life. Let them know you want to see them in heaven one day with Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
My mouth will tell about how right and good You are and about Your saving acts all day long. (NLV) (Psalm 71:15 )

Today's Key Thought:
Tell friends about Jesus