Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-5; John 16:33; Hebrews 11:1

Editor's note: This story addresses war and may not be suitable for some children.

Alina held tightly to Pursia, her fluffy white cat. She could see her mom's creased forehead in the car's rearview mirror, and it reflected the fear Alina felt squeezing her own heart. On the distant horizon, black smoke billowed from the bombs that had been falling for days now. Whatever road they took, Alina didn't have to ask to know her mom couldn't verify their safety.

"There's about one hour left, Lina," Mom said softly as they passed by the wreckage of a bombed-out shell of a building.

"Are Titka and cousin Artem safe?" Alina whispered.

Mom smiled tightly. "Last time I talked to them, they were just fine. They are eagerly waiting for us to arrive."

"I'm glad they're safe, but I miss my room and our home.

Do you think we'll ever get to go back?"

"Only God knows, Lina. I know you're scared--I am too. We just have to remember right now that God is greater than our fear."

"How do we remember, Mom? How can we know that for sure? People are attacking our country, and we haven't done anything wrong! I don't understand how God could allow this to happen." Alina blinked back a mixture of sad and angry tears.

"I know, sweet girl. We have to have faith in Jesus even though we're afraid. Remember, we live in a broken world where there are wars, sickness, and suffering. God didn't intend the world He created to be this way, but when Adam and Eve sinned, everything changed. But thankfully, that wasn't the end of our story, because God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from sin and be with us in our suffering. In this world we will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world, and He wins in the end."

Alina started singing softly in the backseat. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous--for the Lord your God is with you." Then her mom joined in. Their voices lifted louder until Pursia meowed in protest. Alina giggled. "I think Pursia is afraid we're going to keep singing, Mom."

"Well, I'm glad you started that song, even if she isn't! What a great reminder that God is with us wherever we go."

-Savannah Coleman

How About You?
Have you ever had to endure something terrible? Maybe you've experienced the horrors of war, injustice, or evacuation from your home. Even though we encounter troubles in this world, we can be strong and courageous because God is with us wherever we go. No matter what hardships we walk through, we don't have to fear because we belong to Jesus and He loves us completely.

Today's Key Verse:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV) (Joshua 1:9)

Today's Key Thought:
God is greater than fear

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:24-28

Ambrose's eyes widened as he glanced at the change the clerk had given him and then at the ten-dollar bill she was placing into the cash drawer. He quickly stuffed the money into his pocket, picked up the candy bar he had bought, and hurried out the door.

Wow! thought Ambrose. She must have been daydreaming or something. She gave me change for a twenty-dollar bill and didn't even notice it was a ten-dollar bill she was putting away. Now I have enough to buy that skateboard I want.

When Ambrose arrived home, he put the extra ten dollars in his desk drawer with the rest of his money. But he didn't feel comfortable all evening. He couldn't shut out the voice in his head. Over and over it said, That was stealing. Take it back!

When Ambrose entered his classroom the next day, he overheard a classmate talking to her friends. "I can't get a drama club T-shirt because my dad's out of work," Shelby said. "My sister planned to buy it for me. But at her job yesterday, her cash register was ten dollars short, so she had to pay it."

Ambrose felt like his heart almost stopped. It was Shelby's sister who had given him too much money. It's not my fault, he tried to tell himself. It's not like I took it. She gave it to me. But he knew that by keeping money that didn't belong to him, he was stealing just as if he'd gone into the store and taken it out of the register himself.

As he glanced at Shelby, Ambrose realized that any time something was stolen, someone had to pay. If I keep the money, Shelby and her sister are the ones who will pay for it, he thought. That's not how I'm supposed to treat others as a Christian. Jesus sacrificed His life to pay for my sins, and He says to love others the way He does. That means doing what's right.

Ambrose had planned to ask his mom to take him to the sporting goods store after school, but instead he went to the grocery store to return the ten dollars to Shelby's sister. Then he went home with a smile instead of a skateboard.

-Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?
Are you careful to do what's right? Even when it's not easy? It wasn't easy for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, but He did it because He loves us. If you know Him as your Savior, He's given you the ability to obey Him and show His love to others. Trust Him to help you do the right thing and put others before yourself so they can see that you're honest and trustworthy like He is.

Today's Key Verse:
Indeed, we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people. (CSB) (2 Corinthians 8:21)

Today's Key Thought:
Do the right thing

Bible Reading: Genesis 11:1-9; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:1-8; 17:26-27

The sun felt so hot Keisha thought she might melt like the chocolate she left in the jeep yesterday. "How much farther to the market?" she asked Fatmata.

"Not far!" answered her new friend.

Keisha had met Fatmata that morning, her first day at her new school. Keisha's father had taken a nursing position at the hospital in Mattru Jong, a town in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The family had moved to Mattru from New York the week before. Keisha hadn't had time to explore, so Fatmata offered to show her around.

When they reached the marketplace, Keisha was amazed. Women wearing colorful fabric around their heads and hips were selling peppers, cassava, balls of groundnut paste, rice, dried fish, mangoes, and papayas. The food sat in bowls on wooden tables or on fabric spread on the dirt. It didn't look or sound anything like grocery stores back home.

"What language are they speaking?" Keisha asked.

"Mostly Krio," said Fatmata. "It's our trading language. Some are speaking Mende, the tribal language of Mattru. School is taught in English, so most of us speak all three."

"I wish I knew three languages!" said Keisha.

When Keisha got home, her family sat down to a dinner of groundnut stew over rice. She was still getting used to the hot peppers, but it was delicious!

"Dad, why are there so many languages?" Keisha asked.

Dad put down his spoonful of stew. "The Bible tells us people used to speak one language. Sadly, they only cared about making themselves great instead of trusting and obeying God. They even thought they could build a tower to heaven on their own, so God caused them to speak different languages so they couldn't communicate and then scattered them over the earth."

"The Tower of Babel!" exclaimed Keisha.

Dad nodded. "But later in the Bible, Jesus tells His disciples to go and tell everyone that He died and rose again to save them from sin. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the apostles preached the gospel to a crowd that spoke many different languages, and everyone understood. It was a miracle! And God continues to make a way for people everywhere to hear the good news of Jesus, no matter what language they speak."

"Wow," said Keisha. "I can't wait to tell Fatmata about this!"

-Bonnie Carr

How About You?
Did you know that God wants each of us to tell others about Jesus and how much He loves them? You don't have to travel to another country to do that. You can tell your friends, neighbors, and family members. You can invite them to church or youth group so they can learn about Jesus. Trust God to use you wherever you are to help spread the good news of salvation to people all over the world.

Today's Key Verse:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (NIV) (Matthew 28:19)

Today's Key Thought:
Share the good news with everyone

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

"Mom, can you help me tie a string around my finger?" Abby held out string and a pair of scissors. "I never heard of it before, but Tina's grandma told us she used to tie a string around her finger to help her remember things. So this should help me remember to ask Tina to bring my sweatshirt to school tomorrow."

"All right." Mom smiled as she helped with the string. "Now, I hope you're ready for church. It's time to go."

"I'm ready," said Abby, and they were soon on their way.

When they arrived at church, Abby looked for Tina, but her friend wasn't there. I'll just leave the string on my finger until after church, Abby thought. It will remind me to call Tina when I get home.

That morning, Pastor Gates preached from the book of First Corinthians. "The Lord knows we are a forgetful people," Pastor Gates said. "So He gave us a special way to remind us of what He's done for us." Abby smiled and twisted the string on her finger. "Shortly before Jesus was betrayed, He and His disciples celebrated the Jewish Passover," Pastor Gates continued. "At that time, Jesus established a special meal that we will share together today as a reminder of His sacrifice. We call it the Lord's Supper or communion. The bread reminds us of Jesus's body and how He suffered for us on the cross, and the grape juice reminds us of His blood which was shed for our sins. It's also a reminder that Jesus will return one day to end suffering and death in this world forever."

I know all about needing reminders, Abby thought as she glanced at the string on her finger.

When Abby arrived home from church, she called Tina to tell her she missed her in Sunday school and to remind her to bring the sweatshirt to school with her. "I told her to tie a string around her finger so she wouldn't forget," Abby told her mom. "I'm glad I can take this one off now!" She removed the string from her finger. "I'm glad God gave us a special way to remember what Jesus did for us," she said. "It sure beats wearing a string around your finger!"

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Do you take part in the Lord's Supper--communion--at your church? What do you think about during that time? Are you reminded that Jesus died to take the punishment for your sin? Do you remember that He's coming again to resurrect all Christians so they can live with Him forever? Communion is a special time to remember what Jesus did for us and celebrate the promise of His return.

Today's Key Verse:
[Jesus said,] "Do this in remembrance of Me." (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 11:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Communion is a reminder of Jesus

Bible Reading: 1 John 3:16-18

When Max and his mom walked into their house, their dog, Harry, ran straight to Mom and started rubbing against her ankles. She pet him and Harry flipped onto his back for a tummy rub.

"Harry, come here," said Max. "Come to me!"

But Harry just looked up at Mom with his puppy dog eyes.

"Why does Harry always go to you? He never greets me first," Max complained.

"Max, when we decided to get a dog, you promised to take responsibility for him. But the reality is I do most of the work for Harry, and he knows it."

"He knows I care for him," said Max. "I cuddle him and tell him I love him every day."

"Let's take him on a walk," said Mom.

Max held the leash as Harry trotted down the sidewalk. Harry sniffed around, squatted, and did a doody. "Okay, Mom, it's right there," said Max, pointing.

Mom pulled out a dog doody bag and handed it to Max. "Here you go," she said.

"Me? I don't want to clean up after him! Can't you do it?"

"Max, this is why Harry always comes to me. He knows I'm the one who takes care of him, including doing the dog deeds that are difficult. Like picking up his doody," said Mom.

"You really think he realizes that?" asked Max.

"I think he does. Love isn't just words and cuddles, Max. It's actions. We talked about that at church last week, remember? The Bible tells us to love others through our actions because that's what Jesus did for us. He loved us by sacrificing His life for us, and He fulfills His promise to provide for our needs and take care of us." Mom nodded toward the bag in Max's hand. "You can love Harry by fulfilling your duty to him too."

"Harry, it is my dog duty to clean up your dog doody," said Max in a deep voice, saluting the dog before taking the bag and picking up the doody. "I'll do my dog duty from now on to show you I love you," Max said, patting Harry's head. He grinned at his mom. "And to show you I love you too!"

-Kelly Bakshi

How About You?
Do you show others you care about them? Have you ever volunteered to take on extra chores for your family? Have you offered to help a friend learn something they may be struggling with in school? It's important to tell people you love them, but love is more than just words. It also means doing the hard stuff. Jesus did that for us when He died for our sins. What can you do to show someone you care?

Today's Key Verse:
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV) (1 John 3:18)

Today's Key Thought:
Love others through actions