Bible Reading: Psalm 31:1-5

"Hurry! Pull up the drawbridge, Winston!" Mitchell hurried into the cardboard castle in their basement. "The enemy is coming!"

Winston pulled up the bridge, and both boys peered through narrow slits in the walls. "Now they won't be able to cross the moat," said Winston. "And even if they do, our strong walls will keep us safe."

Just then Dad came down the stairs, followed by the boys' sister, Charis. "I think it's time for a break," he said, holding out a bowl of popcorn. They all sat in the courtyard of the castle, eating popcorn and admiring the corner towers made by big refrigerator boxes. The towers were connected by cardboard walls.

"This castle is a lot of fun, Dad," said Mitchell. "Thanks for helping us build it."

"This doesn't seem much like a castle to me," said Charis. "I thought castles were big, beautiful palaces with lots of fancy rooms."

"This castle is really a fortress, not a palace," Dad said. "Fortresses were used years and years ago to protect people from their enemies." He took a handful of popcorn from the bowl. "Did you know that God is described as a fortress?"

"He is?" asked Winston. "How can He be a fortress?"

"Well," said Dad, "remember that school shooting we heard about on the news this morning?"

Charis nodded. "It scared me."

"Me too," said Winston. "What if that happened at our school?"

"We live in a sinful world, and bad things happen all around us," said Dad. "But we can find peace by running to our fortress--Jesus, who sacrificed His life to save us from sin and death. We can draw close to Him and trust Him to take care of us."

"But we could still get hit by an enemy arrow, even inside our castle," said Mitchell.

"That's right," said Dad. "And sometimes even Christians get hurt. But when we take refuge in the Lord, we can have peace knowing we're safe with Him. We can be sure that even if an arrow--some bad thing--strikes us, He will be with us. Even death itself cannot separate us from Jesus, because He conquered death when He rose again. No matter what happens, we can have peace knowing we've been given eternal life in Him."

–Jody Hedlund

How About You?
Have you ever been scared by something you heard in the news? We live in a sinful world where lots of bad things happen, but if you're a Christian, you have a strong fortress where you can run for protection--Jesus! He promises to be with you and give you peace--even if bad things do happen. Tell Him your worries and fears and trust Him to be with you.

Today's Key Verse:
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. (NKJV) (Psalm 18:2)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives peace

Bible Reading: John 9:1-7

Jana looked out the window as a tear slid down her cheek. She watched as the other kids laughed and played in the snow. Her brother Caleb saw her and threw a snowball. She giggled in spite of herself as it softly hit the window. Sighing, she turned away and wheeled herself into the kitchen. "What are you making, Mom?"

"Supper," Mom said.

Jana raised her eyebrows and looked at the clock. "At nine in the morning?"

"Yes," said Mom. "But I think a better question would be what's causing these tears." She wiped away a tear from Jana's cheek.

"Oh, Mom," Jana said, "I just don't understand why my illness has lasted so long. Why doesn't God take away my pain and weakness? I know He could heal me!" The last words came out in a little sob.

Mom carefully lowered the meat into a slow cooker, covered it, and set it on low. Then she spoke. "We don't always understand God's ways or thoughts, but He uses the things that happen in our lives." She paused, then tapped the top of the slow cooker. "It's like this meat I'm cooking. It's a special cut that requires careful preparation and cooking that other meats don't require. If I cooked it faster on a higher heat, it would be tough and hard to eat. But when I cook it all day on a low temperature, it's tender and delicious." She grinned. "Even Caleb will be able to eat it with his missing teeth!"

Jana thought about that. "So you're saying being sick and in this wheelchair for so long may be God's way of making me tender and more like Him?"

"Yes!" Mom said. "I don't know why God hasn't healed you more quickly, but I know He's patiently working in your life for good. He can use hard things to make you more like Jesus, who understands your suffering and promises to be with you through it. I pray each day that He will use this long illness to help you know Jesus better and let His love be seen in your life." She poured hot water into a mug. "Now, would you like to come stir Caleb's hot cocoa?" Jana smiled as she rolled to the table to help.

–Myrical Barton

How About You?
Have you been dealing with something for a long time? Do you wonder if God hears your prayers or even cares about what you're going through? He does. God often uses difficult things in our lives to make us more like Jesus, and sometimes those things can last a long time. Remember that Jesus loves you and is with you, and trust Him to use your difficult experience for good.

Today's Key Verse:
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (NKJV) (Job 23:10)

Today's Key Thought:
God uses hardships to shape you

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:7-11

Leighton was excited to spend time with his aunt. Since his new cousin was born, he hadn't seen her much.

"Let's get right to the card tricks," said Aunt Ellie. "Where did I put my cards?"

There was baby stuff everywhere. Leighton helped his aunt go through it. Finally, they found a deck of cards under a stuffed giraffe.

Aunt Ellie was emptying out the card box when they heard crying coming from down the hallway. She stood. "That's River."

Leighton shuffled the cards as he waited for his aunt. His sister had a birthday party coming up, and he wanted to surprise her guests with the tricks that his aunt knew.

"She needs to eat. Sorry." Aunt Ellie reappeared, sitting down and sticking a bottle into the mouth of the crying bundle in her arms.

Leighton waited as his cousin ate and as his aunt held her and patted her back. He waited as Aunt Ellie changed the baby's diaper, and he watched her lay her in a bassinet.

"Watch Mommy impress your cousin with card tricks, okay?" Aunt Ellie moved back over to Leighton. She was about to do a card trick when River started to cry again. She dropped the cards. "Maybe she has a burp that's stuck."

"She needs help burping?" Leighton watched his aunt pick up the baby and start patting her back again. "I'm never going to learn this trick."

"Babies need a lot from us," said Aunt Ellie. "I was talking about that with your grandma. She reminded me that's how we are with God. First, we need Jesus to save us from sin and give us new life in Him." Aunt Ellie sat down. "Then we need His forgiveness when we don't listen to what He says. We need His protection. We need His encouragement. We need His peace and joy and the hope He offers…"

"Do you think He gets tired of all our needs?" Leighton asked.

His aunt shook her head. "Never." River had quieted in her arms, and she looked at Leighton with a smile. "Know what she needs now? Her cousin." She reached over and placed the baby in Leighton's outstretched arms, and he held her carefully.

–Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you know any babies who are always needing something from you and the adults in your life? Babies can't do anything for themselves--they're dependent on others to take care of them and give them what they need. And we need God to take care of us. He is always patient and never grows tired of helping you with your needs. Bring your problems and worries to Him in prayer and trust Him to take care of you.

Today's Key Verse:
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) (Philippians 4:19)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God with your needs

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:7-13

"I'm not going to Topher's birthday party," Declan told his mother as they walked down the grocery aisle. "Not if Walker's there."

"That's not very nice," said Mom. "For Topher or Walker."

"Yeah, well, they both deserve it! Walker's mean and makes fun of people, and Topher just wants to be friends with him so the other kids will think he's cool."

They stopped in front of a display filled with bags of heart-shaped candy, and Declan's younger brother eagerly looked for something to pass out to his kindergarten class with his valentines. "Can I get this kind?" Ben asked, picking up a bag.

"Let's see," Mom said, reading the package. "We'll need two bags of these. There are only twenty pieces in each bag, and there are twenty-one kids in your class."

"One's enough," said Ben. "I'm not giving one to Steven. He's mean, and he doesn't deserve candy."

"Ben," said Mom, "Valentine's Day is all about love, remember? It's not very loving to bring treats for all but one person in your class. As Christians, we need to love others the way Jesus loves us--even those who aren't nice to us. Either we buy enough to share with Steven or we don't buy any at all."

Ben scowled. "No! I'm not getting one for Steven," he said, crossing his arms.

Mom placed the candy back on the shelf and started walking away. "Wait!" Ben exclaimed, tugging at her coat. "Okay, okay, I'll get one for Steven!"

Declan smirked at Ben's sudden change in attitude. "You know," Mom said, eyeing him, "that goes for friendships as well as candy."

Declan looked at her and grimaced. "You're talking about Topher's party, aren't you?"

Mom nodded. "The truth is, we don't get to decide whether someone deserves to have us show them God's love, because none of us deserve it. Yet God showed His love for us all by sending Jesus to take the punishment for our sins on the cross. As His followers, He calls us to love others--even those we don't get along with."

"Like Walker," Declan said. He sighed, then nodded. "I'll tell Topher that I'll go to his party. Maybe I can get some candy to share too."

–LeAnn Campbell

How About You?
Do you find it hard to love people who aren't nice to you? Some people aren't easy to love, but God wants us to love them anyway. He loves us so much that Jesus came to earth, suffered a painful death, and raised Himself back to life to save us from sin. We don't deserve His love, but He gives it to us freely, and He will help us love others--even those who aren't easy to love.

Today's Key Verse:
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (NKJV) (1 John 4:7 )

Today's Key Thought:
Show love to everyone

Bible Reading: John 6:37-40; Romans 6:23

"Mom, Sheba won't come when I call her!" said Adam. "Sometimes she comes toward me, but if I try to touch her, she runs away again. Watch!" Adam called to Sheba, his new puppy. Sure enough, Sheba looked at Adam, and when he kept calling, she ran in circles. Each time, she came close to Adam but always dodged away at the last moment. When she was finally exhausted, Sheba lay down, panting. Adam walked over to her. "You need to learn to obey," he said.

"You're right," said Mom. "I know! Try offering her a reward to encourage her to come to you. Try a dog biscuit--and when you call her, ignore her silly antics. When she comes, praise her, pet her, and give her the biscuit. Eventually, she'll get tired of wearing herself out for nothing. She'll learn that she needs to come to you so she can have her reward."

"Okay," said Adam. "It's worth a try."

Several days later, Adam called to Mom as she walked outside. "Look, Mom! Watch Sheba now!" Mom turned to watch as Adam called to his puppy. "Sheba, come!" The puppy stopped chewing on her dog toy, looked at Adam, and cocked her head. Adam repeated the command. "Come, Sheba!" He held up a dog biscuit. Sheba quickly trotted over to Adam. She stood silently beside him, stared at the biscuit, and remained still. "Good girl, Sheba!" Adam patted her and gave her the biscuit, which she ate eagerly.

Adam beamed. "Sheba's really smart!" He knelt down and hugged the happy puppy.

Mom smiled. "Yes. She is smart to come to her master." Mom came over and scratched behind Sheba's ears. "Sheba reminds me of the way we must come to our Master."

"Come to our Master?" asked Adam. "I guess you mean Jesus, right?"

"Right," Mom said, "and Jesus offers a reward too. He offers the greatest reward of all--eternal life with Him. Running in circles trying to make life work on our own doesn't get us anywhere--it just tires us out. But Jesus is patient with us, and He calls us to come to Him for forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. When we answer His call, the reward is ours."

–Susanna B. Chenoweth

How About You?
Have you come to Jesus? Do you hear Him calling? He's offering a great reward--the gift of eternal life with Him. It's wonderful and it's free--but you must come. He promises that when you do, He will accept you; He will never turn anyone away. Will you come to Jesus today? (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)

Today's Key Verse:
All that the Father gives Me [Jesus] will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (NKJV) (John 6:37)

Today's Key Thought:
Come to Jesus