Bible Reading: Matthew 15:32-39

Bree's mom looked flustered as she grabbed her purse. "I'm going across the street to Grandma's to shampoo her hair," Mom said. "When I get back, I'd love for you to help me make some cookies. I'm supposed to bring a treat to work tomorrow."

"Okay, Mom," Bree said. As Mom hurried out the door, Bree had an idea. I've helped Mom make cookies lots of times. I'll mix them now, and then Mom will only have to bake them. Bree went to the kitchen and found the recipe for her favorite cookies--chocolate mountains. She read the directions, then began putting ingredients into a bowl and stirring them together. Let's see--it says to add a teaspoon of baking powder. Bree looked for the baking powder, but she couldn't find it. Well, it only calls for one teaspoon, so it probably doesn't matter that much.

Bree finished mixing the cookies and had the first batch ready for the oven when Mom came back. "Oh, Bree, thank you!" said Mom. "I was wondering how I was going to get everything done today."

When the timer went off, Bree eagerly went to the oven and took out the pan. "Oh, Mom, they're flat! They're not mountains."

Mom looked at the cookies. "Are you sure you put in enough baking powder?"

"I couldn't find it," Bree replied. "But it only calls for one teaspoon, so I didn't think it could be that important."

"In this kind of cookie it is. It's what makes them rise into cookie mountains. Maybe we can fix it." Mom got the baking powder and vigorously mixed it into the rest of the batter. "Don't feel bad about it, honey," Mom said when she saw the crestfallen look on Bree's face. "Just remember little things are important."

"Like the little boy's lunch that Jesus used to feed thousands of people?" asked Bree. "We just had that story in Sunday school."

"Right," said Mom. "When we offer anything to Jesus out of love and gratitude for all He's done for us, He will use our gift to bless others, no matter how small it is." Mom smiled at Bree. "Today He used your gift of making these cookies to remind me that He loves me and is with me on busy days."

-Vera M. Hutchcroft

How About You?
Do you feel like the things you do for Jesus are too small to make much of a difference? No matter how small they seem, Jesus can use them to do great things. He can use little things--like carrying in groceries for a neighbor, helping your sister with her homework, or being nice to a new kid at school--to draw more people to Him and help them know how much He loves them. The small things matter to God as much as the big things do.

Today's Key Verse:
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (NLT) ( Colossians 3:23)

Today's Key Thought:
Little is big with God

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:3-7

"Mom, I asked my friend Rae if she was a Christian," Sarah said as she and her mother were relaxing on the back porch. "She thinks she is because she goes to church all the time. I told her that didn't make her a Christian, but she didn't believe me. I didn't know what to say."

"It's sometimes hard to convince people that going to church doesn't make them Christians," said Mom, "but don't give up. Try to help her see that it's not what we do that makes us Christians, it's what Jesus did for us when He took our sins upon Himself and died on the cross."

"Okay, Mom. I'll keep praying for Rae and try to help her understand that she needs Jesus, not just a church. It's just hard to know what to say because she thinks she's right."

Sarah's little sister, Emma, left her swing set and walked up to the porch. In her hand she clutched a pretty box. "Mommy, I have some chocolate candy for you," she said, holding out the box.

"Thank you, sweetie," said Mom, taking something from the box.

"You can have one too," Emma told her big sister, passing her the box.

Sarah stretched out her hand to take one. She had seen that the "chocolate" Mom had taken was really a stone, but she decided to play along. "Are these chocolates any good?" Sarah asked, looking at the stone she had taken from the box. "They seem awfully hard. Maybe they're stale."

"They're good chocolates!" Emma insisted. "Look, Sarah!" With a grubby little finger, she pointed to the pictures of big creamy-looking chocolates on the cover of the box. Then she turned and ran down the porch steps.

Sarah laughed. "I hope Emma knows that putting stones inside a chocolate box doesn't make them turn into chocolates!"

"Just like putting a person inside a church doesn't make them a Christian!" said Mom. "Maybe you should tell Rae about Emma's chocolates."

"Good idea!" said Sarah. "Maybe it would help her understand that going to church is great, but we can only become Christians by trusting in Jesus."

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Do you think you're a Christian because you go to church? Attending church is a good thing to do, but it doesn't make you a Christian. The Bible says we can't be saved by anything we do. Jesus, who is perfect, died for the bad things you have done. You need Him to give you His righteousness--His goodness--and make you into a child of God. To be a Christian, you need to trust in Him. (To learn more, click the "Good New!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (NIV) (Titus 3:5)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus saves--church doesn't

Bible Reading: Psalm 37:3-5; 2 Peter 3:18

Michael stood on the lawn, wishing he had someone to play with. "Timmy!" he called loudly, hoping his friend next door would hear him. "Tiiimmmeeee!"

Michael's mom appeared on the back porch. "Go over and knock on Timmy's door, Michael. It's not polite to just yell for him."

"But what if his mom answers?" asked Michael. "What if she doesn't want to be bothered?"

"Oh, Michael, Timmy's mom is a very nice lady. She wouldn't mind answering the door," Mom assured him. "Don't be so shy."

Michael looked at the neighbors' door. Mom was right--he was shy around adults he didn't know well. But knowing that didn't make him feel any braver. I think I'll just play here, he thought when his mom went back in. Maybe Timmy will see me and come out.

Michael wandered behind the house to the tall maple tree where a black squirrel lived. He had named the squirrel Shadow and often tried to get close to watch the little animal get kernels from the ear of corn Dad had nailed to the fence post. At first, Shadow always ran away. Now the squirrel watched with his beady black eyes, but he didn't run until Michael was only a few feet away.

"I think Shadow's starting to trust me," Michael told his mom at lunchtime.

"He's learning you're not there to hurt him," Mom said. "That reminds me of you. You're still learning to trust our new neighbor--Timmy's mom. When you know her better, you'll see that she's happy to have you come over. The better you know someone, the easier it is to trust them." Pushing her chair back, Mom stood and took her dishes to the sink. "You know, Michael, it's like that in our relationship with God too. The better we get to know Him, the easier it is to trust Him. We get to know God as we read His Word and learn about Jesus, who loves us so much that He gave His life for us." She smiled. "I know I can trust Him to help me through anything."

Michael thought about how Shadow was getting to know him and trust him. I want to be like that with God, he thought. And I want to trust Him to help me not be so shy around Timmy's mom and other adults too.

-Judith K. Boogaart

How About You?
Are you learning to trust God? Do you turn to Him in difficult situations and depend on Him to help you? The more you get to know Jesus, the more you'll be able to trust Him in the situations you face each day. Your Bible tells you all about Him. Read it on your own, learn more about what it says at church, and talk to Jesus every day to get to know Him better.

Today's Key Verse:
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. (NIV) (Psalm 40:4)

Today's Key Thought:
Know and trust God

Bible Reading: Acts 9:10-15, 36-39

"Grandpa, I hate my name," Edna told her grandfather one day.

"Well now, I think Edna is a pretty name," said Grandpa. "Your mom named you after your great-grandmother, whom she dearly loved."

"But I have to go to school with kids who have names like Braxton and Jacob. I wish I had a name that wasn't so old-fashioned!"

"A lot of babies are being given old-fashioned names these days," Grandpa told her. "Take the name Jacob, for instance. That's a popular name now, but it's a very old one. Remember Jacob in the Bible?"

Edna sighed. "Yes, but I still wish I had a different name. I think I'll change it someday. After all, the Bible says a good name should be chosen rather than riches."

Grandpa smiled. "Oh, honey, that verse isn't talking about changing your name! It's talking about what people think of you when they hear your name and think of your character. Like I said, the name Edna reminds your mom of one of the sweetest people she ever knew. And when people who know you hear your name, I'm sure they think of what you're like as a person. So…are you friendly and kind? Are you helpful? Or are you selfish and bitter? Those are the kinds of things people think of." Edna just shrugged. "Tell me," said Grandpa, "what do you think of when you hear the name Braxton? Or the name Jacob?"

"When I hear Braxton, I think of a boy who picks on other kids and calls them names!" Edna answered with a hint of anger. "When I hear the name Jacob, I think of a kid who's really smart. He helps me if I get stuck with a math problem."

"Exactly!" Grandpa nodded. "You didn't mention either one as a boy with an up-to-date name, did you? It was their personalities and the way they treat you that you described. So trust God to help you live in such a way that when people hear the name Edna, they think good thoughts. Since you know Jesus, you have His love in your heart, and you can share it with others in how you treat them. Then you'll have a good name even if it's one you might not have chosen for yourself."

Edna nodded thoughtfully. "When people hear my name, I want them to think of Jesus."

-Sara L. Nelson

How About You?
What do people think of when they hear your name? Today's Bible reading gives two examples of very different reactions to a name. The name Saul brought thoughts of evil deeds, while the name Dorcas brought thoughts of good ones. Does your name give people good thoughts or bad thoughts? Trust God to help you live your life so that the mention of your name will make people think of someone who shows others the love of Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. (NKJV) (Proverbs 22:1)

Today's Key Thought:
You can have a good name

Bible Reading: Acts 22:1-15

Matías ran into the house. "I'm going over to Nathan's, Mom." He stopped before going back outside. "If I get a chance to talk to him about Jesus, what should I say? How can I get him to understand?"

"Well," said Mom, "how did you help your brothers know how to paint the shed yesterday? Did you tell them how some of the world's great artists mix colors? Or did you explain various types of strokes and painting techniques?"

"Of course not." Matías gave her a puzzled look. "I just told them what Dad told me, and I showed them how I did it."

Mom nodded. "You started with your own experience, didn't you? Why not do that when you talk to Nathan about Jesus? Tell him how you became a Christian. That's what the apostle Paul often did."

"Okay, Mom," said Matías. "I'll try."

When Matías got to Nathan's house, his friend greeted him at the door. "Hi, Matías," said Nathan. "Come see the model airplane I've been working on."

Matías looked at the model. "Wow! That's cool! Where did you get it?"

"Uncle Joel gave it to me. He was going to help me build it, but he'd been sick for quite a while, and he died before we could get started." Nathan looked at the floor. "I sure miss him."

"I'm sorry your uncle died," said Matías.

"Me too." Nathan sniffed. "He knew he probably wouldn't ever be well again, and he told me a long time ago that he knew he'd go to heaven to be with Jesus when he died. I wonder how he could be so sure."

"I know I'm going to go be with Jesus when I die too," Matías replied.

"You do?" said Nathan. "How?"

"Well, when I was younger…" Matías still wasn't quite sure what to say, but he went on to explain as well as he could what had happened to him. "I learned that we're all sinners, and there's nothing we can do to make up for the bad things we've done. But the Bible says that Jesus loves us so much He died for our sins and then rose from the dead! I trusted Him to save me, and if you trust in Him, you'll have eternal life with Him too."

-Tom VandenBerg

How About You?
Do you tell your friends what you know about Jesus? Don't worry about explaining all the doctrines of the church. Just tell them what Jesus did for you. The words in today's Key Verse were God's instructions to the apostle Paul. Paul shared the good news of Jesus by telling what had happened to him. You can do that too.

Today's Key Verse:
You will be his witness to all people. You will tell them what you have seen and heard. (ERV) (Acts 22:15)

Today's Key Thought:
Tell how Jesus saved you