Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2, 9-21

When the bell rang, Quinn was happy the school day was over. "See you tomorrow," she called to several friends as she hopped on her bike. As she pedaled along, she thought about her day and what she'd do later that evening. Almost before she knew it, she reached the house where she had spent most of her eleven years.

As Quinn started to turn into the driveway, she looked up at the house. Whoa! Wait a minute! she thought. I don't live here anymore! Without even thinking about it, I just rode my bike here like I used to. Quinn quickly turned and headed in another direction. I wonder if the neighbors noticed, she thought, giggling out loud. She soon arrived at her new home.

"Guess what I just did," Quinn said when she walked in. She told her mom about riding to their former house. "Isn't that weird? It's not like I forgot our new house--I actually expected to see it when I looked up. I guess I rode to our old house so often that it became a habit and I went there automatically, without thinking."

Mom laughed. "I guess you proved the saying 'old habits die hard' is true. You slipped back into an old habit, but as you keep coming to this house, you'll form a new habit. This place will soon become as familiar as the old one."

That evening when Dad heard about Quinn's experience, he grinned. "It's easy to go to familiar places." He paused, then said, "In more ways than one."

"What other ways?" asked Quinn. "What other silly things do you think I might do?"

"I was just thinking that Christians sometimes find it easy to slip back into old habits--things we used to do before we knew Jesus and He changed us and made us new," Dad explained. "One of the best ways to get rid of old, bad habits is to develop new ones that reflect the new life we have in Jesus. As we learn more about Him and who He's made us to be, He helps us form new habits."

"So that's one reason we need to go to church and read the Bible, right?" asked Quinn. "Those are ways Jesus helps us learn more about Him and develop good habits."

-Ann La Combe

How About You?
Are there old habits you need to break? Do you sometimes say or do things that don't agree with the new life Jesus has given you? The best way to get rid of old habits is to make new ones. God will help you do that as you go to church, read your Bible, pray, and spend time with Christian friends. Trust Him to help you replace old, sinful habits with new ones that reflect His goodness and love.

Today's Key Verse:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (NKJV) (Romans 12:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Habits can be changed

Bible Reading: 1 John 3:1-3

Kya never meant to break Dad's trophy. It sparkled on the shelf, a reminder of Dad's football days. When Dad said, "Don't run in the house," Kya didn't think about his trophy. She and her cousin Danny had only wanted to race. Now they stared at the broken trophy on the carpet.

"It was too close to the edge of the shelf," Danny said. "It wasn't our fault."

"Danny…" Kya wanted to argue, but tears filled her eyes. What would Dad say?

"Are you afraid you'll get in trouble?" Danny asked.

"No." Kya sniffed. "I'm afraid I'll hurt Dad." More tears fell. After this, would Dad ever trust her again? "We have to tell him the truth."

They knocked on Dad's office door. "Come in!" Dad said. Kya walked in, but Danny hung back. Dad frowned at the sad look on Kya's face. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I…I…"

Danny piped up from the doorway. "We were running, and your trophy fell and broke! We're sorry, Uncle Bryce."

Kya sobbed. "I'm sorry, Dad! I don't know how I let this happen."

Dad pulled her into a hug. "Oh, Kya," he said. "You matter to me more than a trophy."

Her tears dampened his shirt. "I never meant to hurt you."

"We all make mistakes. Sometimes we hurt people. You know who else we hurt when we do the wrong thing?"

Kya nodded. "We hurt God."

"Does God stop loving us when we mess up?"

Kya thought back to everything she'd learned from the Bible. "No. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to take the punishment for the wrong things we do. He did that so He could make us His children."

"That's right. God's love is lavish. That means it's generous and rich." Dad kissed her forehead. "My love for you is also like that. I forgive you for breaking the trophy. I know you didn't want to hurt me."

Kya's heart warmed. She looked behind her. "Where'd Danny go?"

"I think he was scared he'd get in trouble," Dad said. "Maybe we should tell him about God's love too?"

"Yeah." Kya took Dad's hand. "Let's do it."

-Becca Wierwille

How About You?
Have you ever made a mistake? Maybe you were afraid a family member or friend wouldn't forgive you. Maybe you worried they wouldn't love you anymore. As children of God, we have the best gift. We are loved no matter what! God showers us with a love so strong the world doesn't understand it. And we can live our lives sharing that love with others.

Today's Key Verse:
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (NIV) (1 John 3:1)

Today's Key Thought:
Live in the love of God

Bible Reading: John 14:6; Acts 16:25-34

"Sure you don't want to come along to pick up Grandma from her appointment?" asked Riley's grandfather as he turned the car into the driveway. Riley shook his head. He planned to enjoy a glass of milk and some of Grandma's cookies while he waited. "Okay," said Grandpa. He held out a key chain. "The silver key with the round top is the house key. Grandma and I will be back soon."

Riley took the keys and went up the walk. None of these keys look like the one Grandpa described, he thought. He tried each one in the front door. None worked, so he walked around the house, checking every window and door. They were all locked securely. Riley groaned and tried to ignore his growling stomach as he sat down on the steps to wait.

After what seemed like forever, his grandparents arrived. "I couldn't get in!" Riley told them. "You didn't give me the right key, Grandpa."

"I didn't? It's the--oh no, wait! I took it off that ring to have a duplicate made. I must have forgotten to put it back. I'm sorry, Riley."

"Well, I have a key that will work," said Grandma. She handed it to Riley.

A moment later Riley had the door open. "Whew! I didn't think I'd ever make it in here. There's nothing worse than being locked out of the house when all you want is a glass of milk and one of Grandma's cookies!"

"Actually, I can think of something worse," said Grandpa.

"Really? What?" asked Riley.

"It'd be worse to expect to get into heaven but find out too late that you have the wrong key."

"What do you mean?" asked Riley. "You don't get into heaven with keys."

"No, not actual keys," said Grandpa. "But we may think being in a Christian family or living a good life is the key to getting into heaven. But it doesn't work that way. Jesus said, 'No one comes to the Father except through Me.' We can only have the right key by trusting in Him. He's the one who makes us right with God and gives us eternal life." Grandpa paused. "What key do you have, Riley?"

Riley smiled. "I believe in Jesus and trust Him to save me, so I know I have the right key!"

-Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Do you think you'll go to heaven someday? What key are you counting on to let you in? Doing good things? Going to church? Being part of a Christian family? These are useless in opening heaven's door. Jesus is the key to eternal life with God. You can only have your sins forgiven and be saved by trusting in Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)

Today's Key Verse:
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. (CSB) (Acts 16:31)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust in Jesus

Bible Reading: Psalm 118:24-29; 122:1

"Roman! I told you to get up twenty minutes ago. Now hurry!" Roman's mom said from the doorway of his room. "We'll be leaving for church soon!"

Roman sleepily opened his eyes. It was so hard to get up in the morning! He put one foot on the floor, then the other. It was cold. He wrapped his blanket around him.

"Roman, are you hurrying?" Mom called from the hallway a few minutes later.

"Yep, I'm hurrying," Roman answered, and he quickly got dressed, but then he flopped down on the bed again. The next time Mom checked on him, he was fast asleep.

"You're going to have to get to bed earlier," Mom said when she woke him again. "Now get up and get ready, Roman."

The following day was Roman's birthday, and as soon as he heard his parents get up, he jumped out of bed too. He didn't mind that it was early and cold. He threw his clothes on as fast as he could and then ran downstairs.

"Well," Mom said. "I didn't expect to see you up this early!"

"Today's a special day, Mom!" said Roman, eyeing the big box on the table.

"Yesterday was a special day too," said Mom.

"It was?" Roman furrowed his brows in confusion. "It wasn't your birthday or Dad's."

Mom laughed. "No, but Sundays are special. God sets one day a week apart for us to rest from our work and meet with other believers at church. It's a gift that's meant to help us remember we can always rest in the peace and love of Jesus because He saved us and is always with us. But just like any gift, you need to open it."

Dad nodded. "It's not a gift that comes in a box. You can only get it by opening your heart to what God wants to teach you. Maybe you'll learn a lesson at church about someone in the Bible with a problem similar to one you have, or receive a word of encouragement from a teacher or pastor, or remember that God loves you as you rest and spend time with your family."

Roman smiled as Dad handed him his present. "I guess I'll have lots more gifts to look forward to after this one, huh?"

-Linda Weddle

How About You?
Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and starting your day? Every day is a gift from God, but each week He gives us a special day when we can take a break from school and work to meet with Him with other believers. This special day--which is on Sunday for most Christians--is a gift God wants you to enjoy every week. Open it by getting up and being ready to see what good things God has in store for you!

Today's Key Verse:
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV) (Psalm 118:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Sunday is a special day

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24

"Church in a cave!" exclaimed Elias. He and his family were on vacation, and Dad had announced they'd be attending a church service inside a cave. "I've never been in a cave," Elias said. "I wonder what it will be like."

Early Sunday morning, they were on their way. When they were finally down in the cave and seated in the large room where the service was to be held, Elias shivered. It was very dark, except where electric lights lit the way. Huge stone formations hung down, while others rose up from the floor, casting gloomy shadows. The air was damp, and water dripped down the rocky walls. In his seat, Elias pulled his jacket close around him to keep out the cold, clammy air. This is interesting, but I don't really like this dark, scary place, he thought. I hope the sermon doesn't last long. He glanced at the dark shadows cast by the stones.

Shortly after the minister started speaking, it was suddenly pitch dark! Elias anxiously reached out toward where his father was sitting. "I'm right here beside you," Dad whispered.

The minister had paused in his message, and children began crying. Some of the adults nervously tried to calm the children. "Don't be afraid. I'm sure the lights will be back on in a few moments," said the minister. "Don't forget that God can see just as well in the dark as in bright sunlight. He's outside in the sunshine, and He's right here with us too. Our great God is omnipresent."

"What does that mean--that big word?" Elias whispered to Dad.

"It means God is present everywhere at the same time," Dad replied.

"There's no place in this entire universe where God isn't present," continued the minister. "Even way down in this dark cave. He's watching over you this very minute. He cares for us so much that Jesus became one of us and experienced the darkness of death so we would never have to be separated from Him. No matter how dark things get, He is always with us."

Elias felt glad God was right there with Him. I don't even feel very scared anymore, he thought. When the lights came back on a moment later, Elias gave his dad a big smile.

-Carolyn E. Yost

How About You?
Are you facing something that fills you with fear? Does it feel like you're surrounded by darkness and God is far away? No matter where you are or what it is you're facing, God is there with you. Although you can't see Him, He is watching over you and caring for you. The Bible tells us He is everywhere--He's omnipresent--and Jesus promises that nothing can separate us from Him, not even death. Whenever you're afraid or lonely, remember He is with you.

Today's Key Verse:
"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord. (NKJV) (Jeremiah 23:24)

Today's Key Thought:
God is everywhere