Bible Reading: Isaiah 51:6-8, 11; 1 Peter 1:23-25

"I'm glad you came to help me today, Danielle," Aunt Meg said as the two of them explored the cluttered attic. They laughed at their discoveries as they sorted through boxes, getting ready for a garage sale. Aunt Meg picked up a box. "I think my doll Rosie should be around here somewhere."

"Is this it?" Danielle asked.

"It sure is--my little Rosie! I played with her all the time when I was your age." Aunt Meg took the doll and settled its soft body into the crook of her arm like a real baby. Its round face smiled up at her.

"These dolls were very popular when I was a kid," said Aunt Meg. "They came with birth certificates and adoption papers, and people were crazy about them. Rosie was a birthday gift from my parents." She looked at the doll thoughtfully. "I still remember a message our pastor gave the Christmas before I got Rosie. People stood in line for hours and paid big money for these dolls. Pastor Burton told us they would eventually lose their appeal and popularity. He reminded us that material possessions can never bring fulfillment and lasting joy. Only Jesus can satisfy our hearts--and the gift He offers of eternal life with Him is free." She handed the doll back to Danielle. "Pastor Burns was right. I don't get excited about these dolls anymore--or about a lot of other things that were popular once. Look at all the stuff in this attic." She smiled. "But I still get excited when I think about Jesus and all He's done for me. He fills me with joy every day!"

Danielle looked at the doll. "Rosie is nice, but I can't believe you got that excited over something like this."

Aunt Meg's eyes twinkled. "Oh, I think I know someone who has a pretty large doll collection of her own."

Danielle giggled. "Yeah, I guess I did always want to have whatever dolls were popular with my friends when I was younger. Most of them aren't so popular anymore though. Maybe I'll sell some of them at our garage sale."

"Popular items change continually," said Aunt Meg. "But Jesus is always the same. He's a gift we can always get excited about!"

-A. J. Schut

How About You?
Do you have things that have lost their appeal? Are there new things that are popular now you wish you could get? Material things only satisfy for a brief time. You soon grow tired of them, or they become outdated. But the gift of eternal life Jesus offers us is absolutely free, and He brings joy that lasts forever! Accept His gift today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV) (Romans 6:23)

Today's Key Thought:
Only Jesus brings lasting joy

Bible Reading: Acts 2:40-42, 46-47; Hebrews 10:24-25

"Good morning, Hendrick," Ivan said to his lamb as he entered the fenced enclosure. "C'mon. I'll brush your nice wooly coat. You're going to win that blue ribbon at the fair in a couple of weeks." Ivan got busy and groomed Hendrick until his mother called him for lunch.

"Hendrick is going to win that blue ribbon, Mom. I just know it," Ivan said as he bit into his sandwich.

Mom smiled. "He just might," she replied. "By the way, have you talked to Sebastian to see if he'll be going to church with us tomorrow?"

Ivan shook his head. "No, but he got saved last week, so it doesn't matter." He went out the door. "I'm going to see what Hendrick's up to."

When Ivan reached the enclosure, he saw that the gate had been left open and the lamb was gone. "Mom!" he called as he ran to the house. "Hendrick got out! Will you help me find him?" Mom came quickly, and together they searched for Ivan's lamb.

"Hendrick! I was worried sick!" Ivan said when they found him in a nearby field--right in the middle of thorny vines with burrs that got stuck in his coat. "I had you all cleaned and brushed. Now look at you!"

Mom stood and eyed the lamb. "Just because Hendrick is clean and brushed doesn't mean your work with him is done. He's still growing and learning." Mom looked at Ivan. "He reminds me of your friend Sebastian."

"Sebastian?" Ivan was puzzled. "What do you mean? I don't think he's going to go out in a field and get burrs in his hair."

"Hendrick needs care and guidance even after he's been brushed and fed," Mom explained. "And Sebastian--even after he's saved--needs care and guidance too. He needs to be around people who can remind him of God's love and forgiveness and guide him in his Christian life. Jesus doesn't leave us on our own after He washes our sins away and makes us new--He continues to care for us and teach us throughout our lives. One way He does that is through other Christians."

Ivan nodded slowly. "I'll bike over to Sebastian's and ask him to go to church with us--as soon as I get this lamb back in his pen!"

-Dolores A. Lemieux

How About You?
Do you encourage kids who are already saved to attend church? Do you invite them to join you at Bible club? Or do you think new Christians can take care of themselves? All Christians need help and guidance from one another so we can learn more about Jesus and grow in our relationship with Him. You can help those new to faith feel welcome at church so they can receive the care and guidance they need.

Today's Key Verse:
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another. (NIV) ( Hebrews 10:24-25)

Today's Key Thought:
Help new Christians

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:29–5:2

"I can't see anything, Grandpa," said Sophie as she peered through her binoculars into the woods. "What am I looking for again?"

"You're trying to find a superb lyrebird, honey," said Grandpa. "I'm sure there are a few that live in this part of the woods. Maybe we should sit on this log and listen for a while. We might hear them before we see them."

Sophie and Grandpa sat quietly together, listening for any distinct lyrebird sounds. Sophie was spending the summer at her grandparents' home in Australia. She loved learning about all the unique animals that lived nearby.

They heard a few dogs barking in the distance and a squirrel chattering up in a tree. "Well," said Sophie after a few minutes, "I don't think we're going to have any luck today, Grandpa."

Just then, Grandpa gave Sophie a nudge and pointed to some brush in the distance. A medium-sized brown bird with long, flowing tail feathers was foraging for insects on the ground.

"Wow," whispered Sophie as she got a closer look through her binoculars. "I've never seen a bird like that. The tail is so pretty!" The lyrebird lifted its head and broke out in a strange song that sounded like a mixture of whistles and a dog barking. Sophie said, "That's the weirdest bird song I've ever heard, Grandpa. It sounds just like those dogs barking."

"The lyrebird is a master of mimicry," explained Grandpa. "It can imitate all kinds of sounds, like other birds, dogs barking, car engines, and even chainsaws! When they sense danger, the birds give a very loud alarm shriek."

"That's pretty cool!" said Sophie.

"We can be like lyrebirds too sometimes," said Grandpa. "We tend to imitate the words and actions of the people around us, which can get us into trouble if we're hanging around the wrong friends or following popular people on social media who say or do things that are ungodly. The Bible says we should be imitators of God instead. Jesus loves us so much He died to save us, and He helps us imitate that same kind of love in our lives. He calls us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving just like He is."

-Kendra Angle

How About You?
Who are you imitating in your life? Are you showing others the love and kindness of Jesus? Or are you influenced more by the people around you or those you follow online? Who we follow or hang out with affects how we speak and act. As children of God, we need to imitate Him. Trust Him to help you speak and act in ways that show others the love of Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. (NKJV) (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Today's Key Thought:
Imitate Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:27-32

"Jason, are you sure we're on the right road?" asked Mom, sounding worried. The family was driving through rugged mountains with tall trees on each side. The road was becoming narrower, and they hadn't seen any cars or houses for quite a while.

"Well, I was sure this was the right road," Dad answered. "But now I'm beginning to wonder. I thought we would be at the campsite by now. Let's look at the map on my phone." While Dad stopped the car, Mom pulled up the map. Then they both studied the screen. "Here's the town where we bought gas," Dad said, pointing to a spot on the map. "And here's where we want to go." He moved his fingers across the screen to zoom in. "Oh no!" he exclaimed. "I thought the campground was on this road, but there's a turnoff here. We'll have to go back."

In the back seat, Jonathan and Stella looked at each other and groaned. "We're tired!" complained Jonathan. "We've been driving so long already!"

"Yeah," said Stella. "This vacation isn't starting out very well!"

"Oh, come on, now," said Mom. "We've had a good time today, and it won't take very long to go back."

When they finally reached the campground, Dad and the kids set up the tent while Mom made sandwiches. How good they tasted! When they were finished, Dad took out his phone. "There's one more thing we need to do before we go to sleep," he said, hitting a small Bible icon on the screen. "I made a big mistake today when I didn't look at the map soon enough. When I did check it, we got back on track. And much like a map, the Bible is our guide through life. It shows us our need for Jesus and how we can have a relationship with Him, and it helps us know more about Him and how He wants us to live as God's children. If we neglect it, we may find ourselves going in the wrong direction in our lives--and that's a much bigger mistake. Let's read the Bible together now and ask God to use it to guide us in our walk with Jesus."

-Beverly Kenniston

How About You?
Are you following God's directions? You need His guidance every day as you go through life. One of the ways He gives it to you is through His Word, the Bible--but if you don't read it, you won't know what it says. Make it a habit to read at least a few verses every day, and pay attention when you're reading and studying it with other Christians at home or church. Then think about what it says and trust God to help you follow His directions.

Today's Key Verse:
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (NLT) (Psalm 119:105)

Today's Key Thought:
Read and follow God's Word

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:14-15

"Get a move on, Josh," said Luke as he scraped the dishes and piled them on the counter. "You're being lazy. Do your share of the work!"

Josh stopped daydreaming and slowly filled the dishwasher. "I'm doing my share," he muttered.

"You are not!" Luke replied angrily.

"Boys, boys!" Mom said as she entered the kitchen. "I'm tired of the constant bickering going on between you two. You're brothers, and you should love each other."

"Love? Who could love him?" Luke asked. "Every time we do anything, Josh drags his feet, so I end up doing most of the work."

"That's not true!" Josh shot back. "Mom, he's always picking on me!"

"That's it!" said Mom. "You boys apparently need to work off some extra steam. When the dishwasher is loaded, we're all going out to the berry patch to pull crabgrass."

"Aw, Mom!" The boys tried to protest, but soon they all were busy in the garden. By the time they were done, the boys were hot, dusty, and too tired to fight. They sat down while Mom went in and got a pitcher of cool lemonade and some snacks.

"You know, boys," Mom said as she poured them lemonade, "this makes me think of a verse in the Bible that talks about a root of bitterness growing and causing trouble in our relationships. I can see that bitterness is springing up between you two. It could destroy your friendship just like this crabgrass could destroy our strawberry patch. We had to dig out the crabgrass to protect the strawberries. Now let's work on digging the bitterness out of your relationship so you can be friends again. Okay?"

The boys looked at each other and nodded.

"All right," said Mom. "We'll start by asking God to help us. Let's pray that He will guide our conversation and bring to light anything that was said or done that is causing bitterness to grow in your hearts--and that He would help you forgive each other and love each other not just as brothers in this family, but brothers in Christ."

Mom bowed her head to pray, and the boys did the same. Then, as they sipped lemonade, they talked about their differences and how to resolve them.

-Phyllis M. Robinson

How About You?
Are you feeling bitter toward someone? Do you often fight with a brother or sister, a friend, or a classmate? Don't let that root of bitterness grow in your heart. Go to that person and discuss the problem. If you did something to hurt them, tell them you're sorry, and be willing to forgive them for anything they did. Trust God to help you pull bitterness out by the roots and replace it with His love.

Today's Key Verse:
Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (NLT) (Hebrews 12:15)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't be bitter