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

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:6-9

"Mom!" Eloise shouted from the darkness of her bedroom.

Mom ran upstairs to find Eloise hiding under her covers, shaking. "Eloise, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Mom asked anxiously.

"No, I'm not sick. I'm, um, scared," mumbled Eloise.

"What has you so scared, sweetie?" asked Mom.

"I don't want to tell you." Eloise peeked out at her mom. "You'll get mad at me."

"I promise I won't get mad," Mom assured her. "You can tell me anything."

"Well, when I was at Madeline's today, we watched a movie. It was all about people getting chased and hurt. Now I can't get those thoughts out of my head!"

Mom was quiet as she smoothed the blankets on Eloise's bed. "Do you remember last weekend when your softball team was in the playoffs?" asked Mom.

"Yeah," replied Eloise. "We were so nervous--our opponents were undefeated!"

"And do you remember what your coach told you before the game?"

Eloise nodded, remembering her coach's words. "He said, 'Don't think about all the games they've won or the home runs they've hit. Instead, think about how well you guys play as a team. Remember what you've practiced and focus on getting the bat to make contact with the ball and your glove grabbing the ball out of the air. Think positive!'" Eloise smiled. "I think it worked, because we won!"

"You sure did," said Mom. "The Bible tells us to do the same thing."

"It does?" asked Eloise with a puzzled look.

"Yup," said Mom. "A verse in Philippians tells us not to worry about anything, but instead to replace those worried thoughts with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. You traded in your worried thoughts about the game for the truth of how well you're able to play as a team, and you can do the same thing with the thoughts you're having about the movie."

"I can?" Eloise sat up. "How?"

"Whenever we have scary or bad thoughts, we can focus on good things instead--like the truth that Jesus is always with us and wants us to give our fears to Him so we can feel His peace."

Eloise brightened and settled back into bed. "Thanks, Mom. I'm going to lie here and think about good things!"

-Laura Kuehn

How About You?
Have you ever seen or heard something that gave you bad thoughts? Do you sometimes struggle to get scary or worried thoughts out of your head? Don't let them take over. Tell Jesus about the thoughts you're having, and ask Him to help you trade them in for good thoughts. Replace them with the truth that Jesus loves you and promises to take care of you so you can feel His peace.

Today's Key Verse:
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. (NLT) (Philippians 4:8 )

Today's Key Thought:
Think good thoughts

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39; 1 John 4:13-16

SPLASH! Joelle's brother filled the trench between their two sandcastles with a full bucket of water.

"No!" Joelle's eyes filled with tears. "Now they can't get to each other!" She jumped to her feet. "Take the water away, Stanley!"

Her brother shook his head. "There has to be water in the moat."

"No!" Joelle looked between the two castles. "No!"

"What's going on?" Tessa, their babysitter, walked up to them. "Joelle, calm down."

"He put water between the castles!" Joelle pointed at her brother. "Now they can't get to each other!"

Tessa smiled. "Oh, and they're in love?"

"No!" Joelle stomped a foot. "Stanley has the king's house. He built a castle for him. And I built the princess's house. She's his daughter. Her daddy needs to be able to get to her."

"Oh." Tessa scratched her head. "Hmm…"

"There has to be water in the moat," Stanley said quickly.

"Well…" Tessa crouched down. "If the daddy loves the little girl, he will find a way to get to her." She picked up a shell and set it by Stanley's castle. "This is a boat for him to use to get to his daughter."

"What if the boat doesn't work?" Joelle asked, brushing at her eyes.

Tessa picked up a piece of driftwood and set it between the two castles. "And this is a bridge."

Joelle swallowed. Maybe that would work.

"If the daddy loves his princess, he'll find a way to get to her," Tessa said. "Just like God will always find a way to be with us. Nothing can ever separate us from Him. Jesus became human and died to save us, and He will always be with us."

"What about when we do bad things?" Stanley asked, looking up from his castle.

Tessa shook her head. "When we trust in Jesus, our sins are forgiven."

"What about when it's storming?" Joelle asked.

Tessa smiled and shook her head. "Are you asking about God or the people living in your castles?" she asked. "God won't let anything separate you and Him. That king in Stanley's castle is going to find a way to the princess, even if it starts to storm."

Joelle stared at her babysitter for a long minute before she smiled too. She liked the thought of that.

-Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you know that if you trust in Jesus, He is there with you no matter what you face? He isn't going to leave you because you do something bad or because your life is too messy. He came to earth, died for our sins, and then rose again so He could be with us forever. Nothing can separate God from His children. Even when you face storms in life, He will be with you.

Today's Key Verse:
Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT) (Romans 8:39)

Today's Key Thought:
Nothing can separate you from God

Bible Reading: Psalm 8:3-9; Isaiah 49:15

"I have a message for you," Leo's mom told him when he came in from playing outside. "Michael called a few minutes ago. He wants you to call him back."

"Michael Burke?" asked Leo in surprise. "I thought he was on vacation."

"No, it was Michael Watson," said Mom. "I forgot you had more than one friend named Michael."

Just then Leo's older sister burst into the room. "Guess what! I'm going to the church softball game with Michael!" she exclaimed. "He asked me today."

Leo laughed. "Which Michael?"

"I only know one Mi--" She stopped. "Oh, that's right. I do know other Michaels. Well, this one is Michael Ford."

Before going to bed that night, Leo prayed for his family and friends. He thought about a boy in his class at church who needed surgery. "Dear Lord, please be with Michael," Leo began. Then he paused. "You know--Michael Smith," he added. "The one who needs heart surgery."

Leo frowned as he thought about how many Michaels there were in the world. There must be lots of Lukes and Sophias and Bens too, he thought. And Leos! He had thought of God as his personal friend, but suddenly he felt like just one of millions of people. He felt small and unimportant.

A few days later, Leo's dad, who was a doctor, called from the hospital. "Michael had his surgery today, and he's doing fine," he told Leo. "Guess what? There are three other Michaels on this floor!"

"Well, I hope the doctors and nurses don't get them mixed up," said Leo.

Dad laughed. "There's even another Michael Smith here, but don't worry. Our Michael's mother is the head nurse on this floor. Believe me, she knows which Michael belongs to her!"

When Leo prayed for his friend that night, he knew he didn't have to remind God which Michael he was praying for--or which Leo was asking. Just as a mother knows her own son, God knows each of His children. God knows I belong to Him because I trust in Jesus, Leo thought. I'm just as special as if I were the only Leo in the whole world!

-Catherine Runyon

How About You?
Do you think God ever gets tired of caring for so many people? Do you wonder if He's too busy to hear your requests, fears, or problems? Don't worry! God knows each of His children, and every one is special to Him. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to die for you so you could belong to Him, and He cares about everything you go through in your life. He will never forget you!

Today's Key Verse:
I [God] have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. (NKJV) (Isaiah 43:1)

Today's Key Thought:
God knows you personally

Bible Reading: John 14:1-6; Revelation 21:1-4

"What are you doing, Mom?" Cami asked as she walked out to the barn. Her mother stood at the open door.

"Watching some birds," said Mom softly. She pointed toward the rafters. Cami stood beside her mother, and together they quietly watched a bird fly into the barn with a small feather in its mouth. Another bird soon joined it, and Cami and her mom watched as the two birds flew back and forth, busily building a nest.

Suddenly Cami sneezed, and the birds flew away. "Oops! Sorry, little birds. I didn't mean to scare you off," said Cami.

"I'm sure they'll soon be back to finish their nest," said Mom.

"What kind of birds are those, Mom?" Cami asked as they turned to go back to the house.

"They're barn swallows," Mom replied.

"Cool! I should have recognized them. We learned about them at school. Our book said the birds gather mud and roll it into a pellet. They carry it back to the place they've picked out and use it to build a cup-shaped nest. Then they line it with grass and feathers."

"That's interesting," said Mom. "I didn't realize they used mud to build their special little nest."

"Special?" Cami made a face. "A mud nest doesn't sound very special to me!"

Mom laughed. "I guess that's because you're not a barn swallow." She opened the screen door to the house. "Did you know someone has made a special home for you too, Cami?"

"What?" Cami asked in surprise. "Are we going to move?"

Mom smiled and shook her head. "Jesus has prepared a very special place for you. The Bible says everyone who trusts Him as their Savior has a home with Him. He died and rose again to prepare that place for us--a special place in God's family. He is always with us, and one day, when He comes back, we'll live in a perfect world with Him forever. Isn't that a wonderful thing?"

Cami nodded. "Pastor Roberts talked about that last week." She grinned. "But the new world he told us about sounds much better than a mud nest!"

"No doubt about that!" said Mom. "A mud nest is great for barn swallows, but the home we have with Jesus is so much better."

-Sharon K. Regehr

How About You?
Do you have a home with Jesus? He went to the cross to prepare a special place for you in God's family. If you know Him as your Savior, you have a home with Him forever. He will be with you every day during your life on earth, and one day you'll live with Him for all eternity in a wonderful place with no tears, pain, sickness, or death. Make sure you have a special home with Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
[Jesus said,] I go to prepare a place for you. (NKJV) (John 14:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus has prepared a special home