Bible Reading: Romans 12:4-10

Cassie sat on the beach with her seagull in a cage at her side. She looked up at her mother, who was standing beside her. "I'm not sure I can let Howard go, Mom," she said. "He's just about the only friend I've got!" She sighed. "Some kids at school say I'm dumb because I have to go to special classes." Cassie looked down. "Why can't I be smart like other kids?"

Mom sat down and put her arm around Cassie. "You're very smart, honey. That word doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. Besides, our value isn't based on what we can do--it's based on who we are in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. But He did also make each one of us special and give us our own gifts and talents."

Cassie wiped her eyes. "I don't have any gifts."

"Oh, but you do, Cassie!" Mom said. "I believe you have the wonderful gift of being able to help others."

"I do?" Cassie asked, wide-eyed.

Mom nodded. "You're very helpful to lots of people. When Grandma broke her hip, you went to her house almost every day to help out. You always remember to pray for kids at school who are sick--and look at Howard." Cassie looked down at the seagull. "Howard was badly injured when you found him," continued Mom, "and with help from the wildlife refuge, you nursed him back to health." Mom smiled. "The workers at the refuge said you have such a natural way of handling him that he's even become your friend. You've done such a good job, and now he's ready to be released. You're helpful in many ways."

Cassie shrugged. "Anyone would do those things."

Mom shook her head. "I wish that were true, but not everyone is that sensitive to the needs of others."

Cassie looked at Howard. "Well, Howard, how would you like your freedom?" She stood up and opened the cage, and the bird was soon in the air. He floundered a bit, then squawked what must have been a thank you and sailed out over the water. Cassie smiled. She would miss her little friend, but she was eager to see where she could use her special way with animals next.

–A.J. Schut

How About You?
Do you realize that everyone--including you--has special gifts from God? Maybe you think other kids are gifted because they get better grades or have greater athletic ability than you. But you're gifted too--God may have just given you different gifts than He gave those kids, like perhaps being friendly and encouraging others. Be thankful for the gifts God has given you and use them to help others.

Today's Key Verse:
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church…gifts. (NIV) (1 Corinthians 12:27-28)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives gifts to everyone

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:1-5; James 1:12-15

"I can't believe it! Andrew says he's a Christian, but I saw him looking at a bad website on his tablet today," Zane told his dad. "He must be really weak to look at that kind of stuff."

"So looking at websites like that doesn't appeal to you at all?" Dad asked.

"No way!" said Zane. "I don't have any problem staying away from that junk."

"I'm glad," Dad said as he put fishing rods into the trunk of the car. "Did you pack the trout flies?"

"Trout flies? I thought we were fishing for northern pike. You won't hook one of them with a trout fly!"

Dad grinned. "I can see you know a lot about fishing bait." He shut the trunk door. "So, what kind of bait do you need to look out for?"

"Me?" asked Zane.

Dad nodded. "Just like different fish are caught with different lures, different people are tempted to sin by different things. As you pointed out, Andrew is tempted by things he shouldn't look at online. So what are you tempted by?"

"Um…" Zane hesitated. "I don't know."

"Well, let's see. Why were you grounded last week?" asked Dad.

Zane's face grew warm. "I got upset at Macie and smashed one of her toys on the floor."

"And you got in trouble last month for pushing down a boy at school," said Dad. "So you have to watch out for a different lure than Andrew does--you're often tempted to hurt others when you feel angry."

Zane sighed. "I guess Andrew and I are a lot alike."

"You and Andrew and every other Christian," said Dad. "We all struggle with sin, but we're not all tempted by the same things. So instead of judging other Christians when they're tempted by certain sins, we need to encourage them and remind them that Jesus has freed us from sin. And if they do give in, we need to show them grace--just like Jesus does for us."

Zane nodded. "I'll do that next time I see Andrew looking at things he shouldn't--and ask him to do the same for me when I get angry."

"Good idea." Dad opened the car door. "Okay, jump in. Let's go get 'em!"

–Karen Ditthardt

How About You?
What sins do you struggle with? You may not struggle with the same things your friends do, but all Christians struggle with temptation at times. Jesus tells us not to point a finger at others while ignoring our own shortcomings. Instead, we need to remind other Christians who they are in Jesus when they're tempted to sin--and be on the lookout for the things that tempt us.

Today's Key Verse:
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (NIV) (James 1:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Christians struggle with different sins

Bible Reading: 1 John 1:5-10

"Your mom's calling you for lunch?" Josie asked in surprise as she talked on the phone with her cousin Olive. "You mean you haven't eaten lunch yet? It's almost two in the afternoon! We ate a long time ago."

"Well, it's only noon here in Colorado, remember?" Olive replied. "We're in different time zones."

"Oh, that's right!" said Josie. "Well, I'd better go anyway--have a nice lunch."

The girls said goodbye, and Josie hung up. Then she wandered out to the backyard where her dad was working. 

"Josie, I need you to walk down to Tess's house and pick up your sister," Dad said as he poured fertilizer out of a bag. "It's time for her to come home, and I'm busy with this."

"Why can't she just walk home?" asked Josie.

"She's too young to walk that far by herself," said Dad. "I'm covered in fertilizer, so I need you to go get her."

"No, I don't want to!" said Josie. "I'm sick of always doing everything for her. She's so annoying!" Josie turned and hurried toward the house.

When Josie found herself sitting alone in her room a few minutes later, she wished she had obeyed her father, but it was too late now. She knew she deserved to be punished.

When Dad came to Josie's room, she looked up sadly. "I wish we were in Colorado," she said. "It's two hours earlier there--just a little after twelve o'clock instead of two o'clock--so the time I got into trouble hasn't happened there yet. When it got to be two o'clock, I would obey you instead of talking back. I wish I hadn't done that."

"Things that have happened can't be made to unhappen," Dad said. "We can't go back in time--and even if we could, we'd still sin and make mistakes. But we can be forgiven for the wrong we've done. You don't need to move to another time zone for that. When you confess your sin to Jesus, He'll forgive you--and I will too."

Josie jumped up. "I'm sorry, Dad!" she said. "I really am!"

Dad smiled. "Good," he said as Josie gave him a hug. "Then you can go get your sister so I can finish with the fertilizer."

Josie sighed. "Okay, Dad," she said. "I will."

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Have you ever wished you could go back and undo something you've done? You can't do that, but because Jesus paid for your sins on the cross, you can be forgiven. If what you did hurt other people, do your best to make things right with them. Let them know you're sorry, and accept the consequences of your sin. Most importantly, confess your sin to Jesus. He will forgive you and give you a clean start.

Today's Key Verse:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) (1 John 1:9)

Today's Key Thought:
God forgives

Bible Reading: Genesis 50:20; Psalm 66:10-12; 1 Peter 1:6-9

"Wow, look at all the flowers!" Kayla stared in awe at the field of flowers. Her family was hiking in Waterton Lakes National Park. To their left was a stunning lake surrounded by mountains and to their right was a forest filled with beautiful pinkish-purple flowers. The trees were all blackened and bare, so the true beauty came from the flowers and the backdrop of mountains.

"These flowers are called fireweed," Mom said. "They're called that because they grow after a fire."

"Is that why all the trees are burnt?" Kayla asked. "Because of a fire?"

"Yes," Dad replied. "Several years ago there was a huge wildfire here. It burned all the trees and plants. Until the rest of the plants grow back, all that's here is the fireweed. The roots of fireweed can survive extremely hot temperatures, so it is one of the first plants to sprout up. The fire can even help it grow."

"It's so beautiful how these flowers can grow even after the devastation of a fire," Kayla said.

"I think it's a beautiful example of how God works to bring good things out of bad things," Mom said thoughtfully. "Sometimes He allows bad things to happen in our lives so He can use them for good."

"Yeah, the fire must've been terrible, but God was nourishing little roots of beauty even then," Kayla said.

Mom nodded. "That's so true. Sometimes we can see how God is working in our lives, but often we won't see it right away. When this wildfire was raging through the park, I'm sure people worried that a lot of the park's natural beauty would be destroyed. But after the wildfire died down, these wildflowers sprouted up! And the park is still beautiful, even though there's not as many trees as before. In the same way, God can use our hard times to help us grow in our faith, which is a beautiful thing."

"That also reminds me of Jesus's sacrifice," Dad said. "It must've seemed like a terrible thing to Jesus's disciples for Him to be crucified. But God planned it for good--it was the only way we could be saved from sin and have eternal life with Him."

Kayla smiled. "I'm so thankful God causes beauty to flourish even after hard times."

–Elizabeth Cooper

How About You?
Do you have a hard time seeing beauty in your life when things are hard? Sometimes it can take a while to see God bring good things out of bad things, and sometimes we won't see how God was working in our lives until we get to heaven. But because of Jesus's sacrifice, we have the hope of an eternal future with God and can trust Him to use even bad things that happen in our lives for good.

Today's Key Verse:
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (CSB) (Romans 8:28)

Today's Key Thought:
God brings good things out of bad things

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:9-14

Hudson was working on his electric train set when Dad joined him in the basement. "How's the train project coming along?" he asked.

"Good!" said Hudson. "It's almost ready to run."

"All right!" said Dad. "And how was school today?"

Hudson frowned. "I got in trouble for coming in late from recess again, and Miss Cooley gave me extra math homework because I didn't do the homework she assigned yesterday." He sighed. "Everyone's always on my case--I wish I could just do whatever I wanted, like you and Mom."

"Hmm," said Dad. "Well, Hudson, let's see how your train runs." He reached over and pressed the start button, and the train began moving.

"Wait! What are you doing? I don't have all the tracks down yet!" exclaimed Hudson. "It's gonna crash!" As he spoke, the train rounded the turn and rolled off the track, falling on its side. Hudson sighed. "I knew that would happen."

"So the train needs the tracks," said Dad. "Otherwise it doesn't get where it's supposed to go, right?"

Hudson nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, God's path for your life is like those tracks," said Dad. "He sent Jesus to die for you so you could have a relationship with Him for all eternity, and He is patiently building your character and shaping you to be more like Jesus so others can see His love in you. He does that for each one of His children, but when we insist on doing things our own way and disobey the people He puts in our lives to help us learn, we get off track. When that happens, we need to ask Him to forgive us and set us right again."

Dad picked up the train and set it back on the track. "It may seem like Mom and I can do whatever we want because we're adults, but that's not true. We're just farther down our life track than you are and have already learned many of the things God is still teaching you--like responsibility. But we still need His guidance and forgiveness just as much as you do."

"Okay, Dad," Hudson said as he put another piece of the track in place. "I'll trust God to help me stay on track."

–Michael R. Chapman

How About You?
Do you get tired of people telling you what to do? Do you ever wish you could do whatever you wanted? Remember that God has placed people in your life to teach you what He wants you to learn. As you get older, you'll have more freedom in making choices, but you'll have more responsibilities too. That's why you need to depend on God to help you stay on track. Trust Him to lead you along life's path in the way He wants you to go.

Today's Key Verse:
That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (NKJV) (Colossians 1:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God's path for your life