Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6

Damian walked over to the window of the pet store, his heart beating excitedly in his chest. He had waited a long time for this moment.

"Are you ready to go inside?" Aunt Rita asked.

A wide smile lit up Damian's face as he nodded. He followed his aunt inside the store and stopped in front of a large wooden hutch. Two plush calico-colored rabbits hopped over one another, eagerly making their way to the food bowl. Damian's eyes drifted to a light-gray rabbit nestled in the corner, its furry chin resting on an extended paw.

Aunt Rita followed Damian's gaze and chuckled. "Something tells me you already picked which rabbit you would like to adopt."

Damian lowered his hand into the uncovered hutch and rubbed the sleeping rabbit's soft, silky fur. "Can we really adopt it, Aunt Rita?" he asked, finding it hard to believe. The past year had been difficult for him with his parents fighting a lot and his father still unable to find a job.

"We sure can," Aunt Rita replied, hugging Damian to her side. "Did you know that God adopts us to be part of His family?"

"What do you mean?" Damian asked.

"Well," said Aunt Rita, "God loves us so much that when we trust Jesus as our Savior, He adopts us as His sons and daughters."

Damian's eyes widened. "So, God is our Father and we become members of His family forever?"

Aunt Rita nodded. "That's right. Think of how much you already care for this rabbit and the happiness you feel knowing it will be part of our family. God feels the same way about us. He takes great delight in adopting us as His children." She squeezed Damian's shoulder. "I know things haven't been easy lately, but remember you're not alone. Because you know Jesus, you're part of God's family, and He promises to be with you and take care of you." Aunt Rita pointed to the rabbit. "Just like I know you'll take care of him."

Damian felt the warmth of Aunt Rita's words wrap around him. Joy filled his heart as he realized how special it made him feel to be included in God's family.

-Ann Garde

How About You?
Do you ever feel like God is far away? Or that you have to face difficult situations alone? Everyone feels like that at times, but God promises us that when we trust Jesus as our Savior, we become His children. He is a kind and loving Father who will always take care of us and be there when we need Him. Are you part of His family? If not, trust Jesus today, and God will make you His child. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. (NLT) (Ephesians 1:5)

Today's Key Thought:
God adopts us into His family

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 John 2:3-6

"Mom, why do we do devotions every day?" asked Bo as she picked up a book with colorful illustrations of birds and flowers. "It seems like we get enough Bible teaching by going to church every week." As she spoke, she thumbed through the book she was holding. She studied a picture of a beautiful red cardinal. "I'd sure like this picture for my bird project," Bo said. "Can I cut it out?"

"That would ruin the book. Why don't you trace it?" suggested Mom.

"Good idea." Bo jumped up and found some tracing paper.

Mom watched as Bo worked. "Why do you put the paper right on top of the picture?" Mom asked.

"It's tracing paper," replied Bo, surprised at her mother's question. "I put it on top of the picture so I can see the lines through the paper and trace them."

"But you just saw the picture a minute ago," said Mom. "Why not put the paper to the side and look back at the picture every now and then?"

"Mom! I'm tracing it, not copying it," said Bo. "When you trace, the paper has to touch the picture." She looked at her mother suspiciously.

Mom nodded. "You're right. I'm thinking of your question about having devotions every day. The Bible says our lives should look like that of Jesus--we should follow in His steps and love others the way He does."

"And you're comparing that to tracing a picture?" asked Bo.

"Yes, because in order for you to trace that bird, your tracing paper needs to be right there on the picture, and in order for us to be like Jesus, we need to know what He's like. The Bible is His story--it shows us who He is. As we read and study the Bible--at church and on our own--we learn more about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit helps us apply what we learn to our lives. It's one of the ways He shapes us to be more like Jesus."

"You mean, it's like He's tracing us over Jesus?" Bo lifted the tracing paper and looked at it, then put it back on the picture. "Okay," she said as she traced more lines. "As soon as I'm done with this, let's do our family devotions!"

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Do you live the way Jesus lived? He lived a perfect life that none of us ever could, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can follow in His steps. One way to do that is to spend time reading the Bible so you can learn more about Jesus. It's important to read and study God's Word with other people at church, but it's also good to do it on your own. Learn what Jesus did and said, and then follow in His steps.

Today's Key Verse:
The one who says he belongs to Christ should live the same kind of life Christ lived. (NLV) (1 John 2:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Follow in Jesus's steps

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 4:11-16

"Mom, look at Tommy!" Avery laughed as her little brother waved his spoon and smeared mashed potatoes over his face. He dipped the spoon back into his bowl and then put it to his mouth. "Big boy!"

Avery cheered. "You got it all in this time."

"Pretty soon he'll be eating everything by himself," said Mom. She patted Tommy's curly head as she reached for a spoon to feed him the last bit of food from his bowl. Then she handed him his cup of milk. "There you go. You can finish that while Mommy clears the table."

"Can I be excused?" asked Avery. "I need to finish my history project for school."

Mom nodded. "And if you haven't had your devotions yet, do that too before you watch TV."

Avery sighed. "Sometimes I think I might as well skip having devotions by myself. I don't understand the Bible very well. I get a lot more out of our family devotions because you and Dad explain things I don't get. Why can't I just wait until I'm older to read the Bible on my own?"

Mom looked at her thoughtfully. "What if Tommy wouldn't try to feed himself until he was…oh, maybe ten years old? Would that be a good thing?"

"No," said Avery. "That wouldn't be good at all!"

"Right," said Mom. "We're happy to help him when he needs it, but we're also glad to see him try to feed himself--even when he misses his mouth and makes a mess. As he practices, he'll become better at it."

Avery smiled at Tommy. "He's getting better already."

"Well, the Bible is like spiritual food," Mom said. "As we learn the truth of God's Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to strengthen our faith and nourish our souls. You take in spiritual food by learning about the Bible at church and during devotions with the rest of us, which is very important, but it's good for you to learn to feed yourself spiritually too."

Avery glanced at Tommy's messy face. "When I don't understand what I read, I guess it's kinda like I missed my mouth," she said with a grin.

Mom laughed. "Then you can ask for help. But don't stop trying. Learn to get some spiritual food all by yourself."

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Are you learning to feed yourself spiritually? As you learn to read the Bible for yourself, you may not understand every word, but as you keep at it, you'll understand more and more. The Holy Spirit will teach you. He will also use people--like parents, pastors, or teachers--to answer your questions when you need help. Take time to read God's Word, and ask for help when you need it.

Today's Key Verse:
Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation. (CSB) (1 Peter 2:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Read the Bible for yourself

Bible Reading: Luke 17:11-19

"Did you enjoy working in the nursery this morning, Kylee?" Mom asked as they headed home after church.

"I did--except for one little kid named Jalen," Kylee replied. "The only thing he said all morning was gimme! 'Gimme that toy. Gimme a juice box. Gimme, gimme, gimme!'"

Kylee's brother Micah grinned. "Sounds like you," he teased.

Kylee rolled her eyes. "Jalen doesn't appreciate anything you do for him or give him," she said. "Somebody should teach that kid to say thank you. Instead, the minute he gets what he wanted, he wants something else!"

"That's what two-year-olds are often like," Mom told her.

"In fact, it's what all of us are like sometimes," said Dad. "What Micah suggested isn't so far from the truth."

Kylee's mouth dropped open. "Dad!" She didn't like being compared to a two-year-old.

Dad laughed. "Relax, Kylee, I'm not just talking about you. I'm talking about all of us. We can all have a 'gimme' attitude at times--adults included."

"Adults?" Micah laughed. "They ask for juice boxes?"

"Well, maybe not that," said Mom. "But does this sound familiar? 'Dear God, please help me find a new job…and help the kids study hard and get good grades in school.'"

"And help me get a hit in our next ball game!" Micah chimed in.

"And help me eat healthier and exercise," added Dad with a grin.

Kylee laughed. "We all ask for a lot, don't we? I guess the world must seem like a great big nursery to God."

"You may be right," said Dad. "But even if we sound like a nursery full of small children, we're God's children, and Jesus tells us to bring our troubles and concerns to Him in prayer. He loves us and promises to help us with our problems. When we bring Him our requests, we should also remember to thank Him for saving us from sin and answering our prayers."

"I know I'd like to hear thank you from Jalen once in a while," said Kylee. "I guess working in the nursery will help me be more thankful when I ask Jesus for things."

"That's one thing we can all ask Jesus to give us right now," said Dad. "A thankful heart."

-Heather M. Tekavec

How About You?
How do you sound when you talk to God? Do you sound like a little kid who asks for one thing after another and doesn't seem to appreciate what he has? Or do you take time to thank Jesus for all He's done for you? God loves you and wants to give you good gifts. Bring your problems and requests to Him in prayer, but do it with a heart full of gratitude for all He has given you.

Today's Key Verse:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV) (Psalm 107:1)

Today's Key Thought:
Thank God for His goodness

Bible Reading: John 15:13-15; Ephesians 5:1-2

"Elena, wait a minute!" Hearing someone calling to her just as she was about to walk out to the bus, Elena paused.

Riley, a friend from school who had recently started attending Elena's church, approached her. "Can you help with the fall cleanup at church on Saturday?" she asked. "My family signed up to help, but no other kids I know are coming. It'd be really nice to have a friend there!"

"This Saturday?" asked Elena. "Um…I think my family might be out of town." She knew that wasn't likely, but she didn't want to spend her Saturday raking leaves.

Two days later, Elena walked into the kitchen as she talked on the phone. "Please, Nora," she said. "I need someone to quiz me…" She paused. "Okay, fine! Goodbye!"

"What's wrong, honey?" asked Mom.

"It's Nora!" Elena plopped down into a chair. "I spent two whole hours helping her study for her English test." Elena held up two fingers. "Two hours!" she repeated. "But when I asked her to help me with my science test, you know what she said? 'No way! I hate science!'" Elena scowled. "Nora's supposed to be my friend."

"I can understand how you feel," said Mom. "It hurts when we give our time and energy to help a friend but they won't return the favor. Let this be a reminder to be a faithful friend yourself--a friend like Jesus, who sacrificed so much when He became human and died for our sins so we could be His friends forever. Like Him, we should be willing to make sacrifices in our friendships too."

As Mom spoke, Elena remembered how Riley had asked her to come to the fall cleanup that weekend. Riley's always been a good friend to me, but I wasn't there for her when she needed a friend, Elena thought. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my Saturday for her.

Elena got up. "I've got to call Riley," she said. "She asked me to help with the fall cleanup at church on Saturday, and I want to tell her I can be there after all."

-Beth Ingram

How About You?
Are you a good friend to others--a friend like Jesus? Are you willing to make sacrifices when your friends ask for help? Or do you put yourself and your own needs first? Jesus sacrificed His life so we could be His friends and have eternal life with Him. He is always faithful and available to help you when you need Him. As His friends, we should imitate His love in our friendships with others. Be the kind of friend He is--one your friends can count on.

Today's Key Verse:
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. (NLT) (John 15:13 )

Today's Key Thought:
Be a friend like Jesus