Bible Reading: Isaiah 1:18; Titus 3:3-7

"Ugh! I'm so tired of this cold weather. What's the use of winter anyway?" Josh grumbled as he put on his heavy coat and snow boots.

Josh's mom handed him his lunch and said, "We can talk more about it tonight, but pay attention to how clean the new fallen snow looks as you walk out to the bus stop."

As he walked down the sidewalk, Josh dragged his boots through the snow, thinking about what his mom had said. When he got on the bus, he told his best friend Marcus about it.

"What does not liking winter have to do with clean snow?" Marcus asked.

Josh shrugged. "I don't know, but Mom said we'd talk more about it tonight."

Josh and Marcus didn't think any more about it the rest of the day, until Josh's mom picked them both up after school. It was Friday, and Marcus was spending the night.

Josh's dad picked up pizza for dinner on his way home from work. As they ate, Josh said, "Hey, Mom, Marcus and I are wondering what you meant this morning when you told me to pay attention to how clean the new fallen snow looked."

"Well, I used to complain about winter too because I can't stand to be cold," Mom replied. "But on one winter morning when I was having my devotions, I read Isaiah 1:18, which says, 'Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.'" Mom smiled at the boys. "Now, don't get me wrong--I still can't stand being cold! But thinking of how Jesus loved me so much He died on the cross for my sins and made me clean like freshly fallen snow--well, that changed my perspective. Winter is cold, but the snow is beautiful."

Marcus took a bite of his pizza. "Would you tell me some more about Jesus?" he asked. "My mom and dad don't take me to church, and I really don't know much about Him."

Josh smiled and listened as his parents told Marcus more about Jesus. Winter still isn't my favorite season, he thought, but Mom's right--the snow really is beautiful.

-Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Is winter your favorite season? It might not be, but this year, if you see snow, think of Jesus. The Bible reminds us that Jesus washes away our sins and makes us pure like newly fallen snow. What a beautiful picture--clean and beautiful not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus did for us. Do you know Him as your Savior? If not, trust in Him today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
Though your sins are like scarlet, I [God] will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. (NLT) (Isaiah 1:18)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus makes us clean

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-16; Ephesians 2:10

It had been a long day. Jillian came home from school and without saying a word went to her room. The kids' laughter and words kept repeating in her mind. They probably didn't think she understood, but she knew what they were saying about her. Though she had only recently moved to the United States, she'd learned English at school in her home country. People thought she was quiet because she didn't speak English or understand what they were saying, but they were wrong.

After a while there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Jillian said quietly.

It was her mom. "Hi, honey. Are you okay? What's the matter?"

"It's nothing, Mom. I just had a long day at school, that's all."

Mom sat down on the bed where Jillian was hugging her pillow. "Fifth grade can be hard, especially when it's in a whole new country. New people, new culture--everything is new."

Across the room hung Jillian's beautiful painting of the beach at sunset. Mom stood up and walked over to it. The painting was full of different shades of orange, red, yellow, blue, and even pink and purple. "What a masterpiece!" said Mom.

"Thanks, Mom. I only painted what I saw…God's creation."

Mom smiled at her. "For we are God's masterpiece." She paused, then said, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well."

Jillian furrowed her eyebrows. "Yes, I know those verses, Mom, but what do they have to do with my sunset painting or me right now?"

"If you only had orange paint, would you have been able to create this beautiful sunset painting?" asked Mom.

"No, that wouldn't make it nearly as beautiful," said Jillian, surprised at her mom's question.

"Jillian, that's exactly what God did when He created us. He made us all different and unique and beautiful in our own way, but together we are an even greater masterpiece. Together we create a picture of the love Jesus has for all people. You don't have to be the same as everyone else. Be different. Be you, because you are fearfully and wonderfully made."

-Sara Hanna

How About You?
Have you ever felt different from everyone else around you? Have you gotten teased for being different? Do you feel like you don't fit in? Remember that you are God's masterpiece. God sees you and smiles because He knows just how unique you are and that you are wonderfully made. Jesus loves you so much He gave His life so you could live with Him forever. Remember that He is always with you.

Today's Key Verse:
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago, (NLT) (Ephesians 2:10)

Today's Key Thought:
You are God's masterpiece

Bible Reading: Psalm 77:1-10

Adrianna didn't want her dad to leave. She wished he didn't have to work nights.

She frowned when he told her it was time to get ready for bed.

She got into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. When she went to her bedroom, she found her dad there holding a framed picture.

"What's that?" asked Adrianna.

"I thought you might like to have this," said Dad, setting the picture on the table next to Adrianna's bed. "Who do you see in the picture?"

"Jesus and a bunch of kids."

Dad nodded toward Adrianna's bed, and she quickly climbed into it. Dad knelt down beside it, his gaze on the picture. "This can help you remember that Jesus is always with you. He's with you in the night, when you get a case of the scaries."

Adrianna frowned. "I want you to be here. I want you to come in when I have a bad dream."

"I know. But that's not happening right now." Dad touched her lightly on the head. "I need to go to work, but you'll still have your mom. And you'll have Jesus." He nodded toward the picture. "The Bible talks about how we can cry out to God in the night," Dad said. "Many people did that in the Bible. When they felt scared or hurt, they cried out to God because they knew He was there."

"What if He's sleeping?" Adrianna asked. "You always wake up when I need you."

"God doesn't sleep," Dad said.

"What if He's busy? You always tell me that you'll come even if you're busy."

Dad smiled. "God doesn't get too busy to take care of us, sweetheart. Jesus promises to always be with those who trust in Him and take care of them. Nothing will stop Him from doing that."

"I wish you could be here too," said Adrianna.

"I know," Dad said. "I'll come back soon. While I'm gone, try crying out to God when you're scared in the night, okay?"

"Okay." Adrianna turned to look at the picture. "Dad? Before you leave, can you put this picture on my wall so I can see it better? I want to remember that Jesus is always with me."

Dad nodded. "I'll go get a hammer."

-Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you ever wake up afraid in the night? Do you find it hard to fall asleep because of all that is in your head? Have you tried crying out to God? If you know Jesus, He is with you, day and night. You can turn to Him anytime you feel afraid or alone. He is always there, and He will hear you and help you. You can sleep peacefully in His care.

Today's Key Verse:
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NIV) (Psalm 4:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus is there in the night

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-5

"Okay, Dad!" Mateo exclaimed as he ran into the garage. "I'm ready to help with Rocco's doghouse now."

Mateo picked up a hammer and nail. He positioned the nail carefully and pounded it into the board. "Did you see that, Dad? I drove the nail in perfectly straight!" He stepped back to admire his work.

"Yes, that's great," said Dad. "You've gotten really good at this!"

Mateo smiled. "When I first started, I would hurry, and the nails would bend when they went in."

"Yes, and look at you now!" said Dad.

Dad and Mateo continued to work on the doghouse. When it was finished, they lifted it off the workshop table and brought it out to the yard.

"Come on, Rocco," called Mateo. "Come see your house!"

Rocco wagged his tail and let out a happy bark, running right into his new dwelling.

Dad smiled. "You know," he said, "this project kind of reminds me of what Jesus did for us."

"How so?" asked Mateo.

"Well," said Dad, "the Bible says that because we are sinners, even the good things we do are like filthy rags. I guess you could say our good deeds are like bent nails."

"Bent nails?" Mateo frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."

Dad laughed. "You're right. That wasn't my clearest word picture. I guess what I'm saying is that bent nails weren't good enough for this doghouse and, in a similar way, our good works aren't good enough to save us. Nothing we could ever say or do can earn God's love or make us right with Him. It all comes down to Jesus's work on the cross."

Dad picked up a hammer and nail. "Jesus was perfect, and He was nailed to the cross for our sins because we weren't able to save ourselves from sin and death. That's how much He loves us."

Mateo nodded. "God really loves us a lot!"

"Yes," said Dad. "As Christians, we know we belong to Jesus. And even though we know that our good deeds are a lot like a crudely constructed doghouse, we know His love for us is secure. We see that in His work on the cross. I hope we'll both remember His love whenever we see this doghouse."

-Darlene Anderson

How About You?
Do you know how much Jesus loves you? He loves us all so much that He came to die on the cross for our sin--the things we do that hurt God and others. As Christians, when we see wood and nails, they can be a reminder that God loves us and that Jesus beat sin and death through His death and resurrection. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.

Today's Key Verse:
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Our good deeds can't save us

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-15

"Mom! Where are you?" called Finnley when she got home from school.

"Helping Ella with her bath," answered Mom. Finnley ran upstairs. "Actually, we're finished," Mom said. "Ella

just needs to get dried off and dressed."

Four-year-old Ella peeped out from behind the shower curtain. "Mommy, I want my red pants and flowered shirt."

"But honey, you were wearing that before your bath, and it's dirty," said Mom. "You can wear this nice, clean yellow outfit."

"I want the red one!" protested Ella, pouting. "It's my bestest one!"

"But you're clean now," Finnley said, "so you have to wear clean clothes."

"Exactly!" said Mom.

"Hey, that's kinda like what Mrs. Richards said in my class at church yesterday," said Finnley. "She talked about trusting in Jesus and taking off our old self and putting on a new one. I didn't quite get it, but it's like Ella needing to change her dirty old clothes for clean ones, right?"

Mom nodded. "Before we receive Jesus into our hearts, we're like Ella before her bath--and you know what that's like!" she said with a grin.

Finnley giggled as she pictured her little sister, clothes spattered with mud, face sticky and sweaty, arms and legs covered with dust and dirt. "I sure do! When we trust Jesus to save us from sin and forgive our wrongs, it's like taking a bath and getting all cleaned up, right?"

"Yes, and after that, we must put away our dirty clothes--sinful actions like lying and cheating and attitudes of envy, anger, and pride. Sometimes we don't want to do that. We cling to those things, like Ella clings to her favorite red outfit. But our old clothes--our old selves--are no longer fit to be part of our lives because Jesus

has made us new people. Sin isn't a part of who we are anymore because Jesus has freed us from it." Mom helped Ella slip into the yellow outfit. "We need to wear fresh, new clothes of kindness, humility, patience, and love that are appropriate for our new life in Christ."

"I like this yellow outfit," announced Ella suddenly. "I want to wear it all the time!"

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Have you trusted Jesus to forgive your sins and make you clean? If so, can others see that He has made you a new person? Or are you clinging to sinful habits that were part of your old way of life? Put sinful things like lying, greed, selfishness, and being unkind away and put on your new self. Clothe yourself in the love Jesus has given you so others can see that you belong to Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Live your new life