Bible Reading: Matthew 25:14-29; 1 Corinthians 10:31

When Kai came home after school, he sat down with a heavy sigh. "What's wrong, Kai?" asked Mom as she added ingredients to the almond bars she was making.

"I don't seem to be good at anything at school," Kai replied. "I'm not good in sports, so I can't be on the soccer or basketball team. I can't sing, so I can't join the choir. I'm not good at math or science either. Other kids have important things to do, but not me."

"What about helping Mr. Brown in the library?" asked Mom. "He depends on you to return books to the shelves. That's important. And then there's after-school safety patrol--you help the smaller children get to the right buses."

Kai looked doubtful. "Oh, Mom, almost all the kids take turns doing those little jobs. They don't count. Anybody can do them."

"It takes responsible kids to do those things, Kai. I know you'd be greatly missed if you left them for somebody else to do."

For dessert that evening, Mom set a plate of her almond bars on the table. When she picked one up and bit into it, she looked puzzled. "What's missing in these?" She took another bite. "Almond!" she exclaimed suddenly. "I forgot to put the almond flavoring in these bars!"

Dad laughed. "So you made almond bars without almond," he teased.

Mom smiled at Kai. "See what happens when just one little thing is missing? These bars don't need much flavoring, but if you leave it out, everyone will know! The tasks God gives us to do are like that. Even jobs that seem small are important."

Dad nodded. "We don't always know why God asks us to do some things and not others, but we need to be faithful no matter what He has us do. God made each one of us and loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for us, and He promises to use the work we do for good. We can trust Him to use whatever tasks He gives us to plant seeds of His love in people's hearts and to prepare us to do bigger things later on."

"Right," said Mom. "Now, Kai, I have an important job for you. Help me dish up some ice cream to go with these bars!"

-Kathy J. Hoffner

How About You?
Are you serving God where you are right now? Or do you sometimes think that what you do isn't really important? Today's Key Verse tells us that it doesn't matter how big or small the things you do for the Lord are, the important thing is to do them faithfully. Be faithful in the tasks He gives you, and trust Him to use them to do good things in your life and in the lives of others.

Today's Key Verse:
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. (NLT) (Luke 16:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Be faithful in all your tasks

Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:20-27; 28:13; 1 John 1:9

Gia traced her finger along a pack of gum in her pocket as she and her twin sister Teagan walked down a winding forest trail near their family's cabin. Mom had said they could take a hike if they stayed together and didn't go far. I wish Mom and Dad had let us buy gum when we stopped at the gas station, thought Gia. But their parents hadn't let them buy gum, so the girls snuck some from the shelf into their pockets. It seemed exciting when they did it, but now the gum was bothering Gia's conscience.

She sighed and turned her attention to the trail. "Dad says there's a lake just over this little hill. I'll race you there."

"Okay," said Teagan. "You're on!" The girls took off running.

Gia was so eager to beat Teagan that she flew down the path, never looking down. She cut corners on the curves and often strayed off the trail. Suddenly, her foot hit a rock, and she went sprawling into the leaves and weeds. She felt bruised and shaken as she sat up and looked around. Her knee hurt and was bleeding.

When Teagan caught up, she rushed to Gia's side. "Are you okay?" Teagan asked. "What happened?"

"I guess I got off the path," replied Gia. "My foot hit a rock, and I fell."

Teagan looked thoughtful. "Does that remind you of anything? Like last week's Sunday school lesson?"

"Yeah. It was about getting off the path too," said Gia. "Only our lesson wasn't about straying off a path in the woods. It was about getting off the right path--God's path--by doing things that are wrong and…well, we did that, didn't we?"

Teagan nodded. "Has that gum been bothering you too?"

"I haven't been able to chew it," Gia said. "It bothers me more than this banged-up knee." She sighed. "Our Sunday school lesson was also about how Jesus forgives us when we sin and helps us get back on the right path. We need to confess what we did to Him."

"And to Mom and Dad," said Teagan. "Let's ask them to take us back so we can return the gum. I'd rather get in trouble than feel like this."

"Yeah," said Gia. "It's time to get back on the right path."

-Karen E. Cogan

How About You?
Is something bothering your conscience? That's often a reminder that you've strayed off the path God wants you to take as His child. Maybe you tell yourself that what you've done is okay because other kids do it, but sin is never okay. Don't ignore a guilty conscience. Confess your wrong to Jesus, and trust Him to forgive you and help you get back on the right path.

Today's Key Verse:
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. (NKJV) (Proverbs 4:26)

Today's Key Thought:
Walk on God's path

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-5, 14; 1 John 4:4

Several boys on Diego's street were at it again, making fun of people in the neighborhood. Diego stood there, hating it all, but saying nothing. "Do you get it?" asked one of the boys when Diego didn't laugh at his joke about an elderly woman who lived nearby.

Diego swallowed hard. "I have to go." He sighed as he walked away. Why didn't I tell them I don't like how they talk about people? he thought. It's not easy being the only Christian kid in the neighborhood.

Diego was so wrapped up in his own thoughts he didn't see Pastor Barros until he smacked right into him. "Oh, sorry!" said Diego.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked the pastor, who was fixing the fence in his yard.

"Nowhere--just getting away from the guys." Diego hesitated. "It's really hard to stand up to others all by yourself."

"Yes, it is." Pastor Barros took a toothpick from his pocket. "You're like this toothpick. Here--see if you can break it."

Diego took the toothpick and broke it easily. "You mean I'm weak--not strong enough to say anything, right?" He sighed. "Yeah, I know I am."

"Oh, but look." Pastor Barros took a nail from his toolbox and held it out with another toothpick. "Hold the nail alongside the toothpick and see if you can you break them."

"I can't do that!" said Diego. "I'd have to break the nail. That's impossible!"

"Well," said the pastor, "like I said, you're like a toothpick--but you're like the toothpick with the nail beside it."

Diego frowned. "But who's like the nail then? My parents? Or you? I'd feel much stronger with one of you around, but you're not always there."

"No," said Pastor Barros, "but Jesus is. Trust Him to help you. He's always there to give you the strength you need to do the right thing and treat others with love and kindness, even when you're the only one doing it."

Diego looked at the nail. "Yeah, I guess you're right!"

"You know, I gave this same lesson to Lucas Cardoso yesterday," said Pastor Barros.

"Lucas?" asked Diego. "He lives just a few houses down from me."

Pastor Barros nodded. "He's having trouble with the other boys too. You see, Lucas thinks he's the only Christian in the neighborhood."

-Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Do you have trouble standing up for what's right? Jesus will give you the strength you need. With His help, you can find the courage to refuse to take part in sinful things. You can find the strength to defend those who are being mistreated. And when you do, you may even discover there are other Christians around. You can encourage them to depend on God for strength too.

Today's Key Verse:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV) (Philippians 4:13)

Today's Key Thought:
Be strong in the Lord

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-2; Philippians 2:1-5

"Mom! I don't want Sparky to leave!" exclaimed Sarah. "He's part of our family." Sparky was a service dog, and they had been fostering and training him until he was ready to leave and be rehomed. "Please let him stay," Sarah begged. "Why can't we keep him?"

Mom gently held her daughter's hand. Sparky's soft brown eyes looked up at them both. He sat down beside them, wagging his tail, sensing they were troubled.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but no, we can't keep him. Sparky is a very special dog with an important job to do. We've been blessed to have him with us, but it's time for him to move on and be a blessing to someone who needs his help.

Sarah stormed up to her bedroom. Sparky followed. Hugging him, she sobbed and said, "I'm going to miss you so much. I'll always love you." Then she whispered a prayer. "Dear Jesus, please help me do this."

When James, the dog handler in charge, came to collect Sparky the next morning, Sarah's eyes were stinging and red.

"It's okay to cry," said James. "I know you're heartbroken about losing Sparky. You and your mom have done a wonderful job looking after him. Now, by letting him go, you're helping a blind man who needs him. Sparky will change his life, and you'll be free to foster and train another dog for someone else who needs help."

Tears streaming down her face, Sarah waved goodbye to Sparky as he left.

Once inside, Mom hugged her. "I'm so proud of you. You've been brave and unselfish. I know how difficult this is for you, but your sacrifice has given a man hope." Mom smiled at her. "That's like what Jesus did for us. He made a much bigger sacrifice when He died on the cross so we could have the hope of eternal life with Him."

"I prayed and asked Him to help me do this, and He did," said Sarah. "But it still hurts." She dried her eyes. "Can we pray for Sparky and the blind man?"

Mom nodded, and as they prayed, Sarah's heart was at peace. Even though letting go of Sparky was difficult, she knew Jesus would use him to help someone in need.

-Cindy Lee

How About You?
Have you ever made a sacrifice for someone? Though it can be very hard, letting go of something so someone else can be blessed by it is one way to show people God's love. God loves us so deeply that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross so we could be saved and have eternal life. He can help you let go of something when it's hard so that you can bless others.

Today's Key Verse:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. (NIV) (Philippians 2:3)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God to help you bless others

Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-5, 8:28; James 1:2-4

A big nose blew a gust of air into the side of Torin's head, and he turned and patted his grandparents' horse Firefly on the head before continuing to brush her glossy brown coat. He was glad his parents had let him come to Wyoming to help with the chores on the ranch for a while, after everything that had happened. In late May, his grandmother got sick and had to go to the hospital. Then one day when Grandpa was going to see her, another car crashed into his. Grandpa wasn't hurt, but the car was totally wrecked. That same week, a pine tree behind the stables had been struck by lightning and burned down.

Torin finished brushing Firefly and sent her out to the pasture. He thought about asking Grandpa if he wanted to go horseback riding later that day, but Grandpa always seemed tired from taking care of Grandma, who was home now and in bed most of the time. Grandpa would probably want to go to bed early so he wouldn't be tired at church in the morning. I don't see how they can still trust God after everything that's happened to them, Torin thought.

"Care to take a walk?" asked Grandpa after church the next day.

"Sure," said Torin. As they passed the remains of the tree that had burned, Torin pointed to the ground. "Look! Some of the pine cones don't even look burned."

Grandpa picked one up. "That tree was a lodgepole pine," he told Torin. "This kind of cone only opens when it's exposed to a great deal of heat. A fire seems like a bad thing, but there will soon be new trees growing because of it." Grandpa smiled. "Through His marvelous handiwork, God ensures that even a fire will result in something good."

"I didn't know God made pine cones like that," said Torin.

"He sure did." Grandpa handed the pine cone to Torin. "It's been a rough summer for us. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged, but when I look at these pine cones, I'm comforted. I know God can bring good out of the fiery trials we face. He cares for us, Torin, and He won't let anything we experience go to waste. He can use the hard things that happen in our lives to help us grow to be more like Jesus and remind us of the hope and joy we have in Him."

-Linda Weddle

How About You?
Have you experienced bad things in your life? Remember that Jesus is there for you. He cares about the forest enough to make sure new life comes from a fire, and He cares about you even more. Look to Him for comfort and peace when bad things happen, and trust Him to bring good out of the difficult experiences in your life.

Today's Key Verse:
When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (NLT) (James 1:2)

Today's Key Thought:
God cares for you