Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:8-20

The girls in Cabin 9 were walking down the path to the campfire at Bible camp when Gabby pointed up at the sky. "Look at the moon tonight! Yesterday there was no moonlight at all in the sky, but today there is a bright sliver of light."

Her counselor, Jami, nodded. "It has started to reflect the sun's light, and tomorrow it will reflect more light and keep growing until it's a full moon."

They reached the campfire and found their seats. They sang silly songs and laughed as they roasted marshmallows, then listened as the camp director told them about Jesus.

A warm feeling filled Gabby as she listened to the director speak. She suddenly knew that she wanted to trust in Jesus. She moved a little closer to Jami and asked her to pray with her to ask Jesus to forgive her for her sins. Jami gave her a hug as they knelt down to pray.

Later that night, as they walked back to the cabin, Jami smiled and pointed up at the moon. "Gabby, now that you trust in Jesus, your faith is like that moon. Just as the moon reflects the sun's light, our lives reflect the love of Jesus. Yesterday, like the moon, you had no light, but today God's love and goodness have started to shine through you."

Gabby stared up at the moon. "I'm so excited to have Jesus in my life, but what do I do when I get home?" she asked.

"As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, His light will grow inside you," said Jami. "Just as a crescent moon grows into a bright full moon, you'll begin to reflect Him more and more. When you get home, keep getting to know Jesus better and learning more about Him. Go to church and spend time with other Christians, and read your Bible and pray every day. As your faith and understanding grow, you'll become more like Jesus and reflect more of His light, just like that moon."

Gabby pondered Jami's words. "Wow," she said. "I can't wait to get to know Jesus even better! And now that I know Him, I know He'll be with me and help me shine every day."

–Bethany Den Boer

How About You?
Have you recently decided to trust in Jesus? Do you wonder what you're supposed to do now? Now that your sins are forgiven and you belong to Jesus, He will make His light inside you grow. As you grow in your relationship with Him, He will help you follow Him in all you do, and others will be able to see His light shining in your life.

Today's Key Verse:
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18 )

Today's Key Thought:
Keep growing in your faith

Bible Reading: Romans 12:6-8

"I heard the kids' choir at church is holding auditions next week," Mom said as Milo set the table for dinner. "Why don't you try out? I know how much you love to sing, and they could sure use you."

Milo shrugged. "I'm sure those kids are way better than me, so why bother? I'll just stick to singing in the shower."

"I found out more about badgers!" Anna announced when they sat down to dinner. "Have you ever heard of a honey badger?"

"No, but I'm guessing it's called a honey badger because it likes honey," said Milo.

"Right!" said Anna. "The honey badger has a bird friend called a honeyguide. When the honeyguide finds a beehive full of honey, it leads the way to it. Then the honey badger uses its claws to break open the hive and eat the honey."

"Does the honeyguide get some of the honey too?" asked Milo. Anna shook her head. "Well, that doesn't seem fair!" said Milo. "The honey badger should share the honey."

"But the honeyguide doesn't want the honey," said Anna. "It wants the beeswax and the bees' eggs and larvae in the honeycomb, and that's what the honey badger leaves behind."

"Interesting," said Dad. "So each one helps the other, and by helping each other they both benefit."

"You know, we're supposed to do the same thing as Christians," said Mom. "Just like the bird is able to locate honey and the honey badger has claws to open the hive, God has blessed us with different talents and abilities. He wants us to use them to help others and point them to Jesus. When we keep our gifts to ourselves instead of sharing them with others, everyone misses out--both us and the people who would have benefited from them."

Milo sighed. "You're talking about me trying out for the kids' choir, aren't you?" He put down his fork. "Okay, maybe I'll give it a try--I wouldn't want to keep a gift God gave me all to myself when I could use it to help others. I might make new friends and learn more about music too. That sounds better than just singing in the shower!"

–Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
What special talents, skills, or abilities has God given you? Are you using them to help others and point them to Jesus--or are you keeping them all to yourself? God gave you those gifts so you could use them to bless others--and they have gifts that you'll benefit from too! Share your gifts so they can help others and bring glory to God.

Today's Key Verse:
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. (NIV) (1 Peter 4:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Use your gifts to help others

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-18

"What are you reading about?" asked Anna as she peered over her brother's shoulder to see what was on his computer screen. "Oh, look at that little animal! He's so cute!"

"Stop saying everything is cute!" said Milo. "That's a badger, and badgers are interesting, not cute!"

Anna sniffed. "Well, I think that badger is cute. What do you find so interesting about it?"

"Well, this article says that when badgers make their homes underground, they dig dens that are interconnected by a whole maze of burrows and passages. I think that's pretty cool!"

"That is cool," said Anna. "That means they can visit each other without having to go above ground."

Milo nodded. "And it says badgers are nocturnal animals, which means--"

"I know what it means," said Anna. "It means they're awake at night and sleep during the day."

"Right. And listen to this. 'If a badger is away from home at daybreak, he may stay and rest with another badger family for a while before heading back to his own den.' They must be hospitable animals."

"Hospitable? What does that mean?" asked Anna.

"You know--making guests feel comfortable and at home," said Milo.

"Oh! Like how we took care of the missionaries who stayed with us last month." Anna laughed. "Maybe the traveling badgers are missionary badgers!"

"Listen to this," said Milo. "Badgers sometimes even allow a fox to stay in their den!"

"Hmm," said Anna. "I can't think of anything to compare that to!"

"I can," said Milo. "It might be like inviting someone you don't know very well to come over and play--like those new kids who just moved in down the street." Milo glanced out the window thoughtfully. "In my class at church, we talked about how being kind and welcoming to others shows them Jesus's love. He welcomed us into His family when we were outsiders, and He wants us to welcome others and help them feel at home. We even learned a verse that says to practice hospitality."

"Let's ask Mom if we can invite the new kids over," said Anna. She grinned and pointed toward the TV room. "I'm sure we can make them feel at home in our den!"

–Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?
Are you hospitable? Do you make others feel welcome--whether they're your friends or someone you don't know well? The Bible tells Christians to be hospitable and welcoming to others--even those we don't know--because Jesus welcomed us when we didn't know Him. Share His love with others by making everyone feel welcome at your home, school, church, or wherever you are.

Today's Key Verse:
Always be eager to practice hospitality. (NLT) (Romans 12:13)

Today's Key Thought:
Practice hospitality

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:13-21; Ephesians 2:1-7

When Emma came into the living room, tears were falling from Mom's eyes onto her lap. Dad sat next to her with a hand on her shoulder. "It's Grandma," he told Emma. "She died in the hospital this morning."

Emma stared out the window. With Grandma gone, who'd come visit every month? Who'd cook her favorite foods, or go on bike rides and picnics with her?

A few days later Mom, Dad, and Emma made the long drive to the funeral. Emma tried to listen during the service. The pastor said, "Ephesians 2:6-7 tells us that God raises us up with Jesus--He gives us spiritual life as well as the promise of physical resurrection when He comes again--so that we will forever show 'the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.'"

After the service Mom didn't seem as sad while she visited with her sisters. Emma felt like something was missing, and her heart ached.

On their drive home, they stopped at a restaurant. Emma saw something strange on the menu. She asked, "What do they mean by 'bottomless cup of coffee?' That sounds messy."

Dad laughed a little, and even Mom smiled. "That means they'll keep filling your cup as long as you want more coffee," Dad explained.

Mom added, "It's like when Jesus fed the five thousand. He fed people until they were full. Then He gave even more. There's no end to how much He gives us and does for us."

Dad said, "It's that way for your grandma now. God will spend all eternity showing kindness to her in heaven."

"But what about us, Dad? I don't feel full. I feel kind of empty."

"We lost a great treasure in Grandma, and that can make us feel poor instead of rich. But God will never run out of mercy and kindness. He's rich in both of those--and generous."

Mom nodded. "God gave us the greatest treasure of all when He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save us so we could be with Him now and forever. Jesus promises to be with us when we feel sad and give us comfort and peace."

Emma smiled. "It's like a bottomless cup of His love."

–Laura Roesler

How About You?
Do you miss someone who was dear to you? The word dear means valuable, such as treasure or riches. When you lose someone, it can make you feel poor instead of rich. But God is rich in mercy. He knows how to care for those who are dear to us, and He knows how to comfort us whenever we miss them. Trust Him to show you the riches of His kindness and mercy as you grieve.

Today's Key Verse:
The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (NKJV) (Romans 10:12)

Today's Key Thought:
God's mercy and kindness are endless

Bible Reading: Matthew 19:26; Luke 6:45; James 3:7-10

"Mom," said Noah, "Rexy had an accident on the welcome mat again."

Mom made her way to the front door and rubbed her forehead. "I don't know what to do with that dog. He chews up everything in the house. He barks at the garbage truck. He digs under the fence. He's out of control. I don't think anyone can tame that tiny Chihuahua. Would one of you boys please take Rexy for a walk?"

"It's Noah's turn." Micah tossed the leash to his brother.

"My turn? I just gave him a bath last night!"

"That wasn't a bath. You just sprayed some of Dad's cologne on him!"

"Well, you should use some of that cologne because you smell worse than the dog!"

Mom sighed. "Don't you boys ever get tired of arguing? I think Rexy acts so crazy because he's watching how you two act."

"Oh, come on, Mom. We don't bark at the mailman," Noah said.

"Yeah," said Micah, "and it's not like we punch each other or anything."

"You punch each other with words. The way you talk to each other is just as out of control as Rexy. The Bible says people are able to tame all kinds of animals, but no one can tame the tongue."

"So if the Bible is saying we have a better chance of taming Rexy than controlling what we say, why even try?" asked Noah.

"Because taming our tongues is important," said Mom. "They may be small things, but they can cause huge destruction."

Micah laughed. "That sounds a lot like Rexy!"

"The Bible also says that the words we speak come from our hearts," Mom continued. "If we need to change our words, it means our hearts need to change. And we can't change them ourselves."

Noah thought about that. "You mean Jesus has to help us, right?"

"Right," said Mom. "Only He can change your heart and help you love others the way He does. Taming the tongue is only possible with Him." Mom walked over to the puddle on the welcome mat and sighed. "At this point, I think God's the only one who can change Rexy as well."

Micah smiled. "Well, the Bible does say that with God, all things are pawsible!"

–Jared Hottenstein

How About You?
Have you ever been hurt by someone's words? Have you ever hurt someone by what you said to them? Words are powerful things, and it's important to use them to build others up, not tear them down. The next time you want to say something hurtful, remember how much Jesus loves that person. Then trust Him to change your heart and help you love them too.

Today's Key Verse:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (NIV) (James 3:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus changes hearts