Bible Reading: Psalm 19:7-11

As Ryder and Zach set plates and forks on the table for lunch, a dog started barking outside. "There goes Sarge again," said Ryder. "He's always barking."

"This bark sounds different than usual," said Mom. "Maybe one of you boys should go check it out."

"Aw, Mom, we're busy," said Zach. "Besides, Sarge barks at everything--squirrels, people, cars. You name it, he barks at it." Since Mom didn't insist, no one checked to see why Sarge was barking.

When Zach and Ryder went out to ride their bikes later that afternoon, they stopped and stared at the empty garage. "Where are our bikes?" asked Zach.

"I don't believe it!" cried Ryder. "They're gone! Who would have the nerve to come into our garage in broad daylight and take our bikes right out from under our noses?"

"After all the work we did mowing lawns to buy those bikes," said Zach. "Now this!"

The boys rushed into the house. "Our new bikes are gone! Someone stole them!" Everyone hurried out to see for themselves.

Dad returned to the house to call the police department and report the loss. When he came back outside, he stopped to pet Sarge. "Didn't we hear Sarge barking a couple hours ago?" he asked. "He was trying to warn us, and we didn't listen to him."

That evening Dad read aloud from Psalm 19. "Warnings are important," he said after he finished reading. "Today Mom warned you boys not to ignore Sarge's barking, but you did. Sarge was warning us about the bikes getting stolen, but we didn't listen. In this psalm, we see that God speaks through His Word not only to teach us about who He is and how much He loves us, but also to warn us about sin."

"You mean how sin separates us from God, and only Jesus can free us from sin and give us eternal life?" asked Zach.

Dad nodded. "Yes, the Bible definitely warns us about sin in that way. But it also warns those who already trust in Jesus about the consequences of sin and how disobeying God can create huge messes in our lives. Let's be sure to listen, knowing that Jesus will always forgive our wrongs and help us obey Him."

–Evelyn J. Behrens

How About You?
Do you take warnings seriously? God warns Christians about the dangers of sin in the Bible. Listen to Him and obey His commands. Is God warning you about something today? If you think He is, pray and ask God to help you know what action to take, and get advice from an adult you trust. God's warnings are one of the ways He helps you and guides you through life.

Today's Key Verse:
His teachings warn his servants, and good things come to those who obey them. (ERV) (Psalm 19:11)

Today's Key Thought:
Pay attention to God's warnings

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:1-8

"My stomach hurts, Mom," said Kaylee, burying her head in her pillow. "Don't make me go to school today."

Mom put her hand on Kaylee's forehead. "You felt okay at dinner last night--you ate half a pizza! Is something wrong?"

Kaylee glanced at her tablet lying on her bedside table. "Not really. It's just--I posted something last night that I probably shouldn't have. I just know Lucy's going to be totally mad at me."

"Oh, Kaylee," said Mom. "Get dressed and let's talk about it during breakfast."

As Kaylee stirred her cereal, her tablet pinged with a new message. She didn't reach to answer it.

"So, what's the matter?" asked Mom, sipping her coffee.

Kaylee groaned. "I sent a message to Chris last night. About Lucy. I said she wants him to sit with her at the school play next week."

"Does she?" asked Mom.

"No," muttered Kaylee. "And the worst part is, Chris posted my message on his page, so now everyone thinks Lucy likes him. And it's all my fault!"

Mom sighed and shook her head. "Why'd you do that, honey?"

"I don't know," said Kaylee. "It just seemed like a funny thing to say."

"Kaylee, you know written words are just as hurtful as spoken words."

Kaylee's tablet pinged again. She looked at the message and sighed. "It's Lucy," she said. "What am I going to do?"

"What do you think you should do?"

Kaylee looked at Mom, fighting back tears. "Tell the truth?"

"That would be the loving thing to do." Mom smiled. "In fact, the Bible even tells us to write love on tablets."

"It does?" asked Kaylee, her eyes widening.

Mom nodded. "God tells us to write love on the tablets of our hearts. That means showing others His love through our words and actions. When we trusted in Jesus, He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could love others the way He does. We show others love by telling the truth and treating them with kindness--both in person and online."

Kaylee looked at her tablet on the table. "I guess that means I need to write love on this tablet too."

–Jennifer Dillard

How About You?
Have you ever told a lie on the internet? Or wrote something mean about someone so others would think you were funny or cool? Words can spread quickly online, and they can hurt you and your relationships. Show love from your heart by sharing words that are true and kind--both in person and online.

Today's Key Verse:
You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV) (2 Corinthians 3:3)

Today's Key Thought:
Be truthful and kind online

Bible Reading: Psalms 16:11; 37:3-7; Matthew 18:2-4

"Look, Daddy!" exclaimed four-year-old Beck as he peered out the airplane window. "Look! There's snow down there!"

Beck's older brother Micah laughed. "That's not snow. Those are clouds. They just look like snow."

Dad smiled and nodded. "They look solid, don't they? Like you could walk right out on them."

"Yes, but they wouldn't hold you up!" Micah replied. "If you stepped out on one of those clouds, it would be a giant step down to earth."

"Maybe the clouds are made of snow!" Beck said.

Micah shook his head. "No. Clouds are just water vapor," he said in his best big brother tone. "I learned that in science class. They can't hold anything up."

"Ohhh," murmured Beck. Then he had another question. "Why does the plane stay up in the air?"

"The plane is built just right for flying," said Dad, "and the pilot goes to school to learn how to make it stay up." Beck seemed satisfied with that explanation and turned back toward the window.

Micah watched his little brother for a moment. "You know what, Dad?" he asked quietly. "Beck believes everything we tell him."

"That's because he trusts us to tell him the truth," said Dad. "It's too bad, but as we grow older we find there are some people we can't trust. Many people are trustworthy, but even people we trust may sometimes disappoint us."

Micah looked out at the clouds moving past the plane. "Last week Pastor Carter said there was someone who would never fail us. He was talking about God."

Dad nodded. "God has proven Himself to be trustworthy by keeping every promise He has ever made."

"Like how He promised to send a Savior, and He sent Jesus to die for our sins," Micah added.

"Exactly," Dad said. "He's as solid as a rock and completely trustworthy. Notice how I'm the first person Beck asks when he has a question. Since God is our Father, He wants us to seek His wisdom before anything else."

"Daddy! What's that?" Beck pointed at something else outside the window, and Dad and Micah exchanged smiles.

–Ruth Andrews

How About You?
Who are some trustworthy people in your life? People you go to with questions and trust to tell you the truth? People like that are a blessing from God, but even those we trust can sometimes disappoint us. But God is always trustworthy. He always tells us the truth and keeps His promises. His truth and promises are in the Bible, and that's where we can go to seek His wisdom and guidance. Trust Him to help you and guide you.

Today's Key Verse:
O Lord my God, in You I put my trust. (NKJV) (Psalm 7:1)

Today's Key Thought:
God is trustworthy

Bible Reading: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 5:6-8

Max strung out a long piece of cheese and took a bite of his pepperoni pizza. He loved this restaurant--it had tons of fun games. This would've been the best day ever except for the mean kid.

"Mom, see that tall kid over there with red hair? When I was shooting hoops, he shoved me and stole my tickets out of the game."

His mother frowned. "That wasn't very nice."

"I know." Max picked at his food. "I feel like punching him in the face."

"Now, Max, you know that's not how we treat people," said Mom. "The Bible tells us to love our enemies."

"But he's mean!" said Max.

"Do you realize that people were mean to Jesus too?" asked Mom. "The Bible says we were all enemies of God at one time, but Jesus willingly suffered and died for our sins so we could be forgiven and become God's friends."

Max took a bite of his pizza and glanced at the boy. "I think I'm gonna play some games with the rest of my tokens."

"Okay, but you don't have much time. We need to leave in ten minutes to pick up Grandma from the airport."

Max headed for the race car game where he ran into a friend from school. "Hey, Jacob. What are you doing here?"

"I'm gonna play this racing game." Jacob jumped in the seat and slid a token into the slot. "I bet I can beat you."

"No way." Max smiled as he took a seat behind the wheel.

After a couple rounds with Jacob, Mom called to him. "Max, it's time to go!"

He looked down at the coins in his hand. He still had five left. For a moment he considered giving them to Jacob. Then he remembered what his mother had said.

"I gotta go," he told Jacob. He jogged over to the guitar game where the red-haired boy stood in front of the screen.

"Here." Max held out his coins. "These are for you."

The boy's mouth dropped open as Max handed over the tokens. "Why would you give me these?" he asked.

Max shrugged. "I thought you could use them." Then he smiled and went to find his mom.

–Annika Klanderud

How About You?
Is it hard for you to be kind to mean people? If somebody teases you, do you hope they get in trouble? People often describe Jesus as kind, merciful, and forgiving. But the amazing thing is, He's kind to bullies, cheaters, and people who break all the rules. While dying on the cross, He even asked His Father to forgive His murderers. Now that's an exceptional love--and He wants you to show that love to others.

Today's Key Verse:
Love your enemies! Do good to them…for [God] is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. (NLT) (Luke 6:35)

Today's Key Thought:
Love others like Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalms 33:13-15; 139:7-12

Graham held very still when his mom came outside, hoping she wouldn't see him. He loved to hide in the old apple tree. When he peeked through the leaves and branches, he could see Mom in the yard below. He could see Tabby, Mrs. Underwood's cat, creeping through the grass next door. He could see Brie playing with her friend across the street. But no one on the ground could see him.

"Graham! Brie!" Mom called. "Lunch will be ready soon--you have about five minutes left to play." She went back into the house.

Graham didn't feel like coming down just yet. He lay on a branch, stretched out flat on his stomach. He watched a blue jay land by the fence. He watched Mrs. Underwood come out onto her back porch and call Tabby. He watched a red pickup truck drive down the street.

When Mom came out a little later, Graham was still in the tree. "Kids!" Mom called. "Lunch is ready! Time to come in!" Graham swung down and dropped to the ground as Brie came running home.

"Surprise, Mom!" Graham said as he entered the kitchen. "I saw you when you came outside, but you couldn't see me! I saw you too, Brie. I could see everybody!" He grinned. "Kind of like how God watches us from up in heaven."

"Nah," said Brie. "God watches everybody in the whole wide world, all at once, all the time!" She grinned at her brother. "He was watching you while you were hiding and watching us."

"But that's not all," said Mom. "Unlike you in the tree, God doesn't hide from us, and He's never far away. He doesn't watch from a distance but is right here in this room! Because we trust Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is always with us, caring for us and watching over us."

"I guess we can say God is here, there, and everywhere," Brie said. "He always knows where we are and what we're doing. He knows everything about us."

"Then He must know I'm hungry!" Graham said as he sat down at the table. "What's for lunch?"

–Katherine E. Swarts

How About You?
Do you like to hide from people? If you're way up high, you might be able to see a lot from far away, but that's nothing compared to what God sees. He sees the whole world and knows everything about each one of us. He even knows what you're thinking and feeling! He watches over you every minute of every day and is always right beside you. Thank Him for caring for you, and remember He's always with you.

Today's Key Verse:
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJV) (Proverbs 15:3)

Today's Key Thought:
God sees everything