Bible Reading: James 3:3-10

Beck was talking on his phone as he walked into the house after school. "I'm not kidding, Jake! I heard Mrs. Simpson comes to school looking all bleary-eyed because she's an alcoholic. The kids say she sometimes stumbles over her words in class, and she…" Beck paused when he noticed his dad motioning for him to hang up. "Gotta go, Jake. My dad wants me for something. Bye." Beck hung up. "What is it, Dad?"

"You'll have to call Jake back and apologize for the gossip I just heard," said Dad. When Beck started to protest, Dad held up a hand. "Do you have any idea why Mrs. Simpson is having a hard time?"

Beck shook his head. "I don't have her for any classes. I just see her in the hall sometimes, and the kids say she drinks a lot."

"Well, you have no reason to believe that's true. The fact is that Mrs. Simpson's husband is very sick. She has to stay up many nights caring for him. No wonder she's tired."

"Oh…I didn't know that." Beck looked truly sorry.

"Come with me--I want to show you something." Dad led the way to the garage. At his work table, he picked up a hammer and some nails. "Pound these nails about halfway into this board." Looking puzzled, Beck pounded the nails. "Okay," said Dad, "now pull them back out." Beck did so. "Look at this board. What do you see?" asked Dad.

Beck glanced at the board. "Nail holes."

Dad nodded. "Words can be as sharp as nails, Beck. When you use them the wrong way, they can hurt people. When that happens, you should apologize to the people you've hurt. Hopefully, they will forgive you. But even then, you can never take back all the harm you've caused."

Beck nodded. "I get your point, Dad. I'll call Jake and tell him what I said was wrong."

"Good," said Dad. "I think you need to confess your wrong to Jesus too. He always forgives, and He'll help you see others the way He does--people He loves so much that He has nail holes in His hands from when He died for our sins. That's the kind of love we need to reflect in the way we speak to and about others."

-Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Are you careful about the words you speak? Or do you carelessly say things that hurt the feelings or reputations of others? Remember that words leave their mark even when you apologize for what you said. The Bible says our words as Christians should not be sharp and hurtful but helpful and loving. Trust Jesus to help you see others the way He does and speak in a way that shows them His love.

Today's Key Verse:
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (NKJV) (Psalm 141:3)

Today's Key Thought:
Think before you speak

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:97-105

Liam squinted at the pitcher, ready to send the ball soaring. But three swings later, he heard the umpire call, "You're out!" Liam hung his head and walked off the field. Why can't I hit the ball like I used to? he wondered.

The next morning, Liam sat next to his friend Colson during Sunday school as their teacher, Miss Bryan, started the class in song. When they finished, she held up a card. "This is our new memory verse for the month. Liam, can you read it aloud for the rest of the class?"

Liam squinted at the card. "You--Your word is, is…" His voice trailed off when he couldn't finish.

Miss Bryan looked to Liam's left. "Colson, can you help Liam out?"

Liam's face flushed as Colson read the verse perfectly. He wondered if he would ever be able to do anything right again.

Miss Bryan pulled Liam's parents aside when they came to pick him up at the end of the hour. Later on the car ride home, Dad said, "Liam, we're going to schedule an appointment for you with the optometrist."

"The optom-what?" Liam questioned.

"The eye doctor," Mom said. "Miss Bryan mentioned you had trouble reading the verse today in Sunday school. She thinks you might need glasses, which could explain why you've been struggling in baseball."

A few weeks later, Liam took his new pair of glasses out of the case and put them on. Instantly, the world came into focus. He spent the entire day moving his glasses up and down to see the difference. Everything looks so crisp! he thought.

His thoughts circled back to the verse Miss Bryan had taught them: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The Bible makes things clear just like my glasses do, Liam realized. It tells us who God is and how He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us. When my way is unclear, I need to read God's Word and trust Him to guide me.

"You're up!" Colson said.

Liam shook himself from his thoughts, walked over to the plate, and smiled. Because this time, things would be clear again.

-Olivia Summers

How About You?
Do you need glasses? Sometimes our way seems out of focus or fuzzy. It can happen so gradually we might not even realize it! Reading the Bible helps put things into focus. It tells us who God is and what He did to save us so we could be His children. It guides us in how to live so others can see we belong to Jesus. The next time you're faced with a difficult situation, trust God to use the truth of His Word to shine light on your path.

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

Today's Key Thought:
The Bible reveals God's truth

Bible Reading: Psalm 30:5; Philippians 4:4

Georgia went home crying to her sister Cecilia. "Cece, I was trying to be joyful today, but I can't! I saw how happy my friend was when she told me about her parents' anniversary. It must be easy for her to be joyful since her parents are still together." Georgia looked down, her bronze hair falling in her face.

Her older sister tucked Georgia's hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I understand." Cecilia sighed and looked down at her feet. "Do you remember when you were only four years old?"

"Yeah, maybe." Georgia looked puzzled.

"You had so much joy," said Cecilia. "I remember one day at summer camp, the playground suddenly grew dark, and rain came pouring down. All the other kids ran underneath the playground equipment for shelter. The teachers started to get nervous as they searched for the kids. But you stayed and danced in the rain with your bright smile shining in the darkness. The kids began to come out from their hiding places and dance in the rain with you."

Georgia smiled. "Oh, I guess I do remember that. I felt so much joy, even when it was cold and raining."

Cecilia nodded. "And it was contagious! Having joy through trials is like being a light in the darkness, and Jesus says that being a light can lead others to Him."

Georgia's face fell downcast again. "But what if I can't be happy right now?"

Cecilia put an arm around her sister. "It's okay to be sad, Geo. I am too. It's just like the verse from Psalms Sister Marci read to us in church--'Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.' God knows that we may be sad for some time about Mom and Dad getting divorced, and that's okay. Just like the rain only lasts for a season, so do our trials. So long as we keep our focus on Jesus and remember that He's with us, we will experience a joy like no other. He understands our sadness and promises to dry all our tears for good one day."

"You're right, Cece! I will remember to put my hope in Jesus, even if it's hard."

Cecilia turned on her favorite tune and smiled. "Shall we dance?"

-Toria Keyes

How About You?
Are you going through a trial in your life that's making you sad or depressed? Whatever struggle you're facing, whether it's a bad grade on an exam, your pet dying, or missing a friend who moved away, Jesus understands your hurt and wants to provide you with His joy and peace. Remember that He loves you and is always with you, and trust Him to fill you with His joy even when you feel sad.

Today's Key Verse:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV) (Romans 15:13)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus brings joy, even in trials

Bible Reading: John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

"Dad, at Declan's church they don't teach exactly the same things as they do at our church," Nicholas said one day. "We had an argument about it. Declan said his church is right, and I said ours is. Ours really is right, isn't it?"

Before Dad could attempt an answer, Nicholas's little sister and brother came into the kitchen carrying a toy keyboard. They set it on the table. "Connor and me want to play one of the songs Daddy taught us," said Nevaeh. "Okay?"

Nicholas laughed. "Okay." Using just one finger each, the kids began to play. As they carefully pressed the keys, Nicholas thought he recognized "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." But then it became obvious that the two youngsters were each playing a different song.

"Wait a minute!" Dad stopped the little musicians. "You're not following my instructions. I said you should decide together which song to play and then come and show me how well you could do it. Go practice one song, and then come and play for us again."

When the children were gone, Dad grinned at Nicholas. "That sure didn't sound the way I intended their music to turn out. But you know, this reminds me of what we were talking about. Jesus wants His children to all play the same song. Anyone who trusts in Him for the forgiveness of their sins is part of His family, and He wants all Christians to be unified--to be one."

"But which song should we be playing? Whose church is right--Declan's or ours?" Nicholas asked again.

"God's way is right," Dad answered. "I don't know what church Declan attends, so I don't know what his church teaches. But we obviously believe the church we go to teaches the truth of what God says in His Word. That's why we go there."

"So that's what I should tell Declan the next time we argue about church differences?" asked Nicholas.

"Why argue? Why don't you and Declan make an agreement to read the Bible and pray that Jesus would help you both grow in your understanding of what it says?" suggested Dad. "Trust Him to help you be in harmony as you share God's love and truth with those around you."

-Katherine R. Adams

How About You?
Do you argue with kids from other churches? Christians don't always agree on everything, but anyone who also knows Jesus as their Savior is your brother or sister in Christ. Instead of arguing over every detail, we need to encourage each other and work together to share God's love and truth with the world. Remember that all God's children are united in Jesus, and trust Him to help you choose Christian harmony over arguments.

Today's Key Verse:
There is…one Spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all. (NKJV) (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Today's Key Thought:
Christians are one in Christ

Bible Reading: Psalm 107:29; Mark 4:35-41

Kyle and Callam looked out at their backyard as rain pelted the glass. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. "Yikes!" Callam jumped.

"That was close," Kyle said as the tornado siren sounded.

"Everyone to the basement!" Mom yelled. She turned on the TV downstairs to keep track of the storm.

"A tornado warning has been issued for our area," the TV meteorologist said. "Go to your safe place now."

"I wish Dad was here," Callam said as winds howled and objects outside hit their house.

"We should pray," said Kyle.

The boys and Mom held hands. They prayed for God to protect their family, friends, and neighbors. "Amen," Mom said. "Never forget, boys, that God is our shelter in every storm of life."

Just then the electricity went off. Kyle turned on a flashlight.

"Do you remember in the Bible when Jesus and His disciples were in a boat and a storm suddenly came on the lake?" Mom asked.

Callam nodded. "Jesus was asleep, and the disciples thought they were going to drown."

"They woke Jesus up," Kyle said, "and He told the storm, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then everything was calm again."

"That's right," said Mom. "I know it's stormy and scary outside now, but remember that Jesus is here with us too. He saved us from sin and gave us eternal life, and He will never leave us, no matter what happens. We can trust Him to calm our fears and comfort us with His presence in the midst of life's storms."

Just then Mom's cell phone rang. "It's Dad." She put it on speaker. Dad told them he was okay and would be home as soon as he could get there.

"It sounds quiet now," Kyle said after Dad hung up. "Do you think we should look?"

"I'll take a peek," Mom said, going upstairs. "The storm's passed," she called down to them a minute later. "Come on up."

Kyle and Callam went upstairs and looked outside. Tree branches, twigs, and leaves littered the yard. "Look!" Callam pointed. "A trampoline's way back by the woods. Glad it missed our house."

"Thank You, Jesus, for keeping us calm and safe through the storm," Kyle whispered.

-Lynda Boucher

How About You?
Have you ever been scared during a storm? Strong winds, heavy rains, and thunder and lightning can frighten us. But there are other kinds of storms in life that might make us feel afraid, sad, or anxious. Whatever kind of storm comes your way, remember that Jesus is with you. Trust Him to calm your fears and give you strength. And thank Him that you never need to face storms alone.

Today's Key Verse:
God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our help when we are in trouble. (NLV) (Psalm 46:1)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus calms us in our storms