Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:8; 1 Corinthians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 4:10-11

"I don't understand why Miss Wong picked Melanie to sing the solo at church instead of me," said Freya as she flattened a stick of red modeling clay onto the table. "I'm the best singer in the choir, and I have a much better stage presence than Melanie." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Miss Wong says I have a natural talent for music."

"And a natural talent for bragging!" muttered Brody. Freya made a face at her brother as she started shaping the clay into a slender vase. "Don't be jealous just because I'm smarter than you." Brody sighed impatiently and left the room. Freya stood back to admire her handiwork. "I wish I could fire this vase in a kiln so it would hold water, but it will look pretty just sitting on a shelf." She smiled at her mom. "Mrs. White says I'm quite the artist."

Mom glanced at Freya's work. "Well, that blue bowl you made yesterday looks fantastic! And this red clay vase is turning out so well too. Both of those pottery pieces must be very smart and talented to be so nicely made."

"What do you mean?" asked Freya, frowning. "Things aren't smart or talented. I am--I made them. They were just sticks of clay. I'm the one responsible for the way they turned out."

"That's true," said Mom. "That's like people, isn't it? For example, you may be smart and artistic and a good singer, but who is responsible for that? Who made you that way?"

Freya looked down at the table. "God did," she mumbled at last.

"So who should receive the credit and praise?" asked Mom.

"God," Freya admitted.

Mom nodded. "God is the one who gave you your talents and abilities--and He gives them to everyone else too. They're not all the same, but they're all equally important, because they're meant to be used to bring glory to Jesus and share His love with others. We can trust Him to help us do that." Mom pointed to Freya's vase. "Just like you're carefully shaping that lump of clay into a beautiful vase, God is shaping us to be more like Jesus. So don't brag about the things you're able to do. Instead, remember they're gifts from Him and use them to serve others."

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Are you talented at certain things? Do you let others know that God is responsible for the things you do well? All your abilities and gifts were given to you by God. He gives everyone different but equally important gifts so we can use them to serve one another in love. So don't brag about the things you can do. Instead, use your gifts to show others how God is shaping you to be more like Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Who do you think you are? Everything you have was given to you…why do you act as if you got it all by your own power? (ERV) (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't brag

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

"This camping trip was fun," said Jack as he helped Dad pull out the stakes that held their sturdy tent in place. "But I miss Grandpa. He would have loved this."

Dad stretched out an arm and drew Jack close. "I miss him too," Dad said gently. "But he's with Jesus now."

Jack nodded. "I know. I just wish he didn't have to die."

Dad was silent as they folded up the tent. Jack patted it affectionately. "Jack," said Dad, "I know it's a little sad to be packing up our tent and leaving, but aren't you looking forward to being home again?"

"Sure," said Jack. "I miss Mom." He grinned impishly. "Believe it or not, I even miss Topher!"

Dad laughed. "Yeah, you miss teasing him!" He began rolling up the folded tent. "Jack, this camping trip may help us understand something about dying." Jack raised his eyebrows and waited for Dad to explain. "We had a fun weekend living in a tent and cooking outdoors, didn't we?" asked Dad.

Jack nodded. His eyes sparkled as he remembered their campfires and games and visits with the neighboring campers.

"The tent was a temporary home for us," continued Dad. "But now it's time to pack it up and go back to our real home. I know Mom and Topher are waiting to welcome us." He paused. "In a way, when Grandpa died, he packed up his tent too."

"Not that big green tent he always used?" Jack said.

"No, I mean his body," said Dad. "For seventy-five years, this world was a temporary home for him. But then his body got sick and died, and he went to be with Jesus. The Bible tells us our real home is with Jesus--being with Him is better than being anywhere else! And one day, Jesus will make us a new permanent home on earth, and He'll give Grandpa and every other Christian a body that will never get sick or die. Until then, Grandpa will be with Jesus in heaven."

Jack nodded. "I know he's glad to be with Jesus, even though he liked it here too." He smiled at his dad. "Just like we enjoyed camping but are glad to be going home."

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Has someone you love died? Do you ever worry about your own death? Losing our loved ones is sad, but if you trust Jesus as your Savior, you don't need to be afraid of dying. Your body is like a tent, and once it has served its purpose here on earth, it will be packed up and put away. Then you'll go home to be with Jesus, who will one day give you a new, perfect body that will last forever!

Today's Key Verse:
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down…we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself. (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Today's Key Thought:
Our permanent home is with Jesus

Bible Reading: Revelation 22:12-17

"Let's see who can find the brightest star," Garrett said to his sister one hot summer evening as they looked up at the starry sky. "The loser has to buy ice cream tomorrow."

"I don't think you can prove which one is the brightest," said Eden. But she suddenly pointed to the north. "That one's mine! That bright one up there."

Garrett squinted. "I think I see the one you mean, but I see a brighter one." He pointed in another direction. "See--right in the middle of that cluster of stars. That one's brighter than the one you found."

"How do you know that?" asked Eden. They continued searching the heavens as they argued about which star was brighter.

When Dad came out to tell them it was bedtime, Garrett and Eden told him about their competition and asked him to judge which star was brightest of all. "Okay, I'll do my best," Dad said, and they pointed out the stars they had chosen. "As judge," said Dad, "I declare that neither of those is the brightest star of all. In fact, I think the two of you should buy me ice cream because I know the brightest star personally."

"What do you mean, you know a star?" asked Eden. "We're not talking about football or movie stars, you know."

Dad laughed. "Neither am I. And I'm not talking about a star in the sky either. I'm talking about Jesus. In the last chapter of the Bible, which talks about the day He will return to earth as King, He's called the bright Morning Star. On that day, He will put an end to the darkness of sin and evil forever and fill the heavens and earth with His light, and everyone who knows Him as their Savior will reign with Him for all eternity. I'd say that's the brightest star of all, wouldn't you?"

"Okay, Dad." Garrett grinned at his father as he got up to go inside. "But no treat. You weren't in on the deal."

"And you're not the only one who knows the brightest star personally," added Eden. "We know Jesus too!"

"Well then," said Dad, "since you've both found the brightest star, how about I buy all of us ice cream tomorrow?"

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Do you know Jesus--the bright Morning Star? When He returns to earth again as King, it will be the morning of a bright, new day--a glorious day that will never end! But He wants you to know Him as your Savior and King now. He invites you to come to Him. Trust in Him today so you can look forward to a bright future with Him that will last forever. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
I am Jesus…I am the bright Morning Star. (NLV) (Revelation 22:16)

Today's Key Thought:
Know Jesus as your Savior

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Before eating her lunch, Aranya bowed her head and closed her eyes to pray. When she opened her eyes, her lunch bag had disappeared. A few kids watched her and snickered. Aranya sighed. "Who has my lunch?" Several kids burst into laughter.

"Ask God where your lunch is, Miss Christian," said Rob. "You always talk to Him, don't you?"

Mrs. Yates, their teacher, walked over. "The person who has Aranya's lunch will hand it over right now," she said sternly. She paused. "I said now," she repeated. Rob hesitated, then pulled Aranya's lunch bag from his backpack and handed it to her. She quietly took it.

When Aranya arrived home, she told her mother what had happened. "I was so embarrassed, Mom. Not all the kids in my class make fun of me, but some of them call me Miss Christian all the time. I just don't know how to act when they're mean to me. I really felt like throwing something at Rob today--and some of the other kids too--but I didn't."

"I'm sorry, Aranya." Mom gave her a hug. "Your teacher emailed me about what happened, and she's talking to some of the other parents." Mom sighed. "The Bible tells us we'll be mocked and persecuted at times for following Jesus, but knowing that doesn't make it any easier, does it?"

Aranya shook her head. "I keep thinking about how when Jesus was persecuted, He didn't fight or talk back."

Mom nodded. "Follow His example." She paused, then asked, "Do you remember the book you used when you were learning to write? There were letters and words printed on the top line of each page. You copied them the best you could."

"And Jesus is my example for how to act when kids tease me, right?" asked Aranya thoughtfully. "I should copy Him." She sighed. "But I'm not perfect like He is."

"No, but since you trust in Him, you have the Holy Spirit, who is helping you become more like Him," Mom said. "Think about how your letters looked when you first started copying them. Your writing looks a lot more like the letters at the top of the page now than it did when you started. And as you follow Jesus's example, trust Him to let others see more and more of His love in you."

-Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Has anyone made fun of you for being a Christian? How did you react? The next time someone teases you because of your faith, ask yourself how Jesus would act if He were in your place. Then trust Him to help you respond to those making fun of you in a loving way instead of trying to hurt them back. When you copy Jesus, you let others see His love in you.

Today's Key Verse:
God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example. (NLT) (1 Peter 2:21)

Today's Key Thought:
Copy Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11; Isaiah 41:10

As Parker boarded the airplane with his grandmother, he had a lump in his throat. His parents were getting a divorce, and he was going to stay with his grandparents for a while. He felt as dark and gloomy as the day around him--not at all excited about flying on a plane for the first time in his life.

Grandma gave him a reassuring smile. "Scared?" she asked.

Parker shook his head--but inside he screamed, Yes, I'm scared! I'm scared of everything. But he didn't say anything. As the plane sped down the runway, huge drops of rain splattered on the small windows. Just like tears, Parker thought. But he didn't cry.

When the plane lifted from the earth, Parker felt like his heart jumped into his throat. He took a deep breath. All around, dark clouds tumbled, and Parker's stomach felt uneasy. Grandma reached for his hand. "Don't be afraid," she said softly. "We'll get through this."

Parker knew his grandmother was talking about more than the plane ride. He knew she was also referring to the dark, stormy clouds in his life. He wanted to believe her, but there was so much fear in his heart.

"We're going to go right into some of those dark clouds, Parker," said Grandma. "For a few minutes, we'll be in a thick fog, because that's what clouds are--fog. But just wait until we get above the clouds. You'll see."

As Grandma spoke, dark clouds closed in all around them. The interior of the plane dimmed. Then suddenly, a brilliant light came streaming through the windows. Parker squinted as he pressed his nose to the window pane. "Wow!"

Grandma looked over Parker's shoulder at the bright blue sky outside the window. "Even when we can't see it, the sun is always shining. It still shines above the clouds." She smiled and gently patted Parker's hand. "Our family is going through a dark cloud right now, Parker. Things look pretty bad to us, but remember that Jesus is still with us. Even in the darkness, the light of His love never stops shining. He will help us get through this dark time, and one day He will make everything in our broken world right again. Someday we'll break through the clouds."

-Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?
Are you going through a storm in your life? Are you afraid of the future? Whatever storm you're going through, remember that the sun is shining even when you can't see it. And God is near even when it doesn't feel like it. If you know Jesus as your Savior, He promises never to leave you. He will be with you and help you through life's storms and one day lift you above the clouds.

Today's Key Verse:
God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. (NKJV) (Isaiah 12:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus in hard times