Bible Reading: Romans 12:4-8

Kian yanked the door open, bounded into the house, and fell dramatically into an overstuffed chair in the living room. Dad smirked as he watched his son from the corner of his eye. "So, Kian, how was your day?"

"Fine," muttered Kian as he stared out the window.

Dad shut his laptop and put it aside. "Want to talk?"

Kian opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it, changing his mind. A moment later, he sighed. "I didn't make the basketball team," he said.

"I didn't know you were trying out for the team," said Dad. "I didn't think you liked playing basketball."

"I don't, really, but…" Kian shrugged. "All my friends are on the team."

"I see," said Dad, reaching over to pick up a sculpture of a bird. He looked thoughtful as he turned it around in his hands. "So will your friends like you less if you're not on the team?"

"No, but I want to fit in with them and spend time with them," said Kian.

"I know, but you can still spend time with your friends doing other things," said Dad. "And you can show support and interest in what they're doing by rooting for them at basketball games--you don't have to be on the team yourself to do that. Then you'll be able to concentrate on learning to do something you really enjoy."

"Like what?" Kian noticed the sculpture his dad was holding. "You mean like art stuff? I made that bird in art class last year."

"Well, it doesn't seem like God gave you an interest in being a basketball player," said Dad. "But He did give you a gift for art--and you enjoy it."

"Yeah." Kian took the bird and examined it closely. "Maybe I'll sign up for an art class in the spring."

"I think that's a great idea," said Dad. "God gives us all different talents so we can use them to point others to His goodness and love, but we still need to learn to use them and develop them. I think an art class would help you do that."

Kian smiled. "Maybe I'll learn how to make basketball sculptures I can give to my friends!"

–Vicki L. Reinhardt

How About You?
What special talents has God given you? Are you good at writing? Gardening? Singing? Babysitting? Don't try to be what other people are if it's not right for you. Trust God to help you find and develop your own talents and use them to point others to Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Do not neglect the gift that is in you. (NKJV) (1 Timothy 4:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Develop your talent

Bible Reading: Romans 5:6-9

Naomi studied her doll collection. She thought all her dolls were beautiful, and she couldn't decide which one she should enter in the "Best Doll" contest at the local library. Finally, she closed her eyes, spun around a couple of times, and reached out. Her fingers closed around black-haired Hiyoko. "This will be the one," she said.

The library was crowded when Naomi and her mother arrived for the contest. Naomi saw other girls clutching all sorts of dolls--from cute little baby dolls to glamorous dolls in beautiful dresses. Naomi had never seen so many dolls in her entire life.

A little girl standing in the registration line caught Naomi's attention. In her arms, the girl carried a straggly haired doll whose face was chipped and faded from the hugs and kisses of many years. The doll's red dress was wrinkled and stained, perhaps a result of clumsy tea parties. The little girl gently smoothed it while she waited for her turn to register.

Naomi nudged her mother. "Mom, look! Why would that girl over there enter such an ugly old doll?" she whispered.

Mom glanced toward the child, who was now speaking shyly to a woman at the registration desk. "Her doll may not be beautiful, but it certainly is loved," she said. After a moment she added, "I think the way that doll looks to us is similar to how we appear to God. We come to Him covered in scars from the wear and tear of sin and suffering, and like that little girl, He loves and accepts us just as we are. He loves us so much that He sent His own Son to die to save us from sin so we could belong to Him." She looked at Naomi. "I'm so thankful He loved me enough to do that. He loves me--and you--like that girl loves that doll."

They watched as the woman at the desk pinned the number forty-seven on the doll's worn dress. "I really hope number forty-seven wins a prize, don't you?" murmured Naomi.

Mom nodded. "If there's a prize for the most-loved doll, she's sure to get it."

–Phyllis I. Klomparens

How About You?
Have you ever wondered if God really loves you? Perhaps you feel worn down by past mistakes or your circumstances in life. Even though we might be scarred by pain in our lives and hurt those around us, God loves us unconditionally. Jesus loves us so much that He died for our sins so we could spend eternity with Him. Trust in Him, knowing that He loves you just as you are. (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:
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV) (Romans 5:8)

Today's Key Thought:
God loves you

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10-13; Romans 8:38-39

Jace's favorite toy store was closing. He stared at the sign out front and fought back tears. He loved coming here.

His grandpa used to take him every year at Christmastime when he was alive, and they would spend hours looking at all the toys before Jace would finally pick his favorite.

For the past couple of years, Jace had been saving up some of his own money for the cool toys he found in the store. But now, in just a few weeks, it wouldn't be there anymore.

"I don't want the store to close," Jace said to his mom as they walked slowly through the quiet mall. There didn't seem to be many stores left in there. Jace missed when it used to be more crowded and busy.

"I know." Mom put her arm around him. "It's a special place to you. It's hard to say goodbye to something like that."

"Everything changes so much." Jace blinked back tears. "First Grandpa died. Then Grandma sold their house. Now the toy store isn't even going to be around."

"Change is hard," Mom said. "Especially big changes like you've had to go through recently. Life can be difficult sometimes."

Jace glanced at an empty store and sighed. "Nothing ever stays the same."

"Not much does, but one thing is always the same." Mom squeezed his shoulder.

Jace looked at her. "What?"

"Jesus. He's the same today, yesterday, tomorrow, and forever. The Bible tells us that," Mom said. "His love for you is always the same. No matter what changes around you, He is always beside you."

Jace took a moment to consider that as they stepped outside the mall. Jesus had been with him when his grandpa died. He had felt comforted knowing that then. "He'll always be there, no matter what I face?" Jace asked.

Mom nodded. "Always. Through the hard things and good, Jesus is always with you. He died and rose again so you could spend eternity with Him, and nothing can ever separate you from His love. It's always the same."

Jace felt better thinking about that, even though he was still really going to miss the toy store and all the memories it held.

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
Are you facing big changes in your life? Do they make you feel sad or afraid? Even though change is a normal part of life, it can be very difficult. But Jesus never changes--His love for you is always the same, and He promises to be with you in difficult times. When changes happen in your life, take comfort in knowing that He will always be with you and stay the same.

Today's Key Verse:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV) (Hebrews 13:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus doesn't change

Bible Reading: Luke 17:12-19

"I love to hear Marigold sing, Mrs. Brown," Sadie said when she stopped in at her elderly neighbor's home one day. The little yellow canary in its shiny brass cage fluttered around, pecking seeds and singing happy songs. "I wonder why she sings so much."

Mrs. Brown smiled. "I suppose she sings because she's thankful. You know, Sadie, the Bible says, 'When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God.' That's Deuteronomy 8:10." Sadie grinned. Mrs. Brown had a Bible verse for almost everything, even happy canaries.

Sadie perched on a high stool, listening while the little bird poured cheerful notes into the bright, sunny kitchen. "Mrs. Brown," she said thoughtfully, "at our house we don't always pray before we eat. Sometimes Dad calls and says he'll be late, so Mom fixes a tray for me and I eat in the living room while she feeds Braedon in his high chair."

"Well, no matter where you're eating, you can thank God for your meal," Mrs. Brown said. "In the Bible, God always provided for His people, and He still does today even if it looks different than we might expect." She took a seat next to Sadie. "Do you remember the story about Jesus healing the ten lepers--and only one returned to thank Him?" Sadie nodded. "I think even Jesus seemed surprised that the others forgot to come back and thank Him, don't you?" asked Mrs. Brown. She looked at the bird cage. "No one has to remind Marigold to sing--she does it naturally. Maybe she can help us learn to sing songs of thanksgiving."

"How?" asked Sadie.

"Well, learning to sing songs of thanksgiving takes practice," said Mrs. Brown. "A good place to start can be to thank God for what's right in front of you and the things He's done in the past. I often thank Him for sending Jesus to die for me and for giving me His Spirit to be with me every moment of the day. It's taken practice and a lot of help from Jesus for my prayer of thanksgiving to become as natural as a canary's song."

"I want to sing songs of thanksgiving and thank God every day too," said Sadie. "I can't wait to tell Mom and Dad I had a singing lesson from a canary!"

–Phyllis I. Klomparens

How About You?
Does giving thanks come naturally to you? It's easy to remember to thank God for everything He's given you on Thanksgiving, but He wants you to give thanks the rest of the year too. Practice saying thanks every day, and it will soon become a natural part of your life--and you'll notice more and more things to be thankful for too!

Today's Key Verse:
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. (NLT) (Psalm 103:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Practice giving thanks

Bible Reading: Psalm 13; Isaiah 49:15

"How long until we get there?" Jeremy whined for the fourteenth time in the past seventeen minutes.

"We'll be at Uncle Jim and Aunt Kate's house in about two more hours," Dad replied. "Let's stop at a rest area soon and stretch our legs."

At the rest area, Jeremy tumbled out of the van along with his parents and brothers. The boys began kicking a soccer ball around while Mom and Dad grabbed granola bars, apples, and water bottles from the trunk.

As they settled back into the car, Dad said, "Jeremy, your question reminded me of something."

"What's that?" Jeremy inquired between juicy bites of apple.

"King David," Dad answered. "He asked God that question many times in a row."

"Was David on a long road trip too?" Jeremy asked.

Dad laughed. "No. He was asking how long God would forget him, how long God would abandon him to his enemies."

"But God wouldn't do that," Jeremy said with certainty. "God won't ever leave us or forget about us. The Bible says so."

"That's true," Dad said. "But sometimes it feels that way. When life is hard, when someone we love is dying, or when we're sick or lonely, it can feel like we'll be miserable forever. Sometimes it feels like God isn't hearing our prayers--like He doesn't care about us."

"Dad and I talk about Psalm 13 quite a bit," Mom added. She turned around to look at Jeremy. "When God didn't answer our prayers to heal your cousin Emma the way we were hoping He would, this psalm encouraged us to talk to Jesus about it--to bring our anger and pain to Him. Talking to God like this doesn't mean we're sinning or not trusting Him correctly. Talking to God like this actually means that we--like David--trust Him enough to keep bringing our questions to Him. Jesus gave His life to make us God's children, and He loves and welcomes us--even when we're angry, even when we ask the same question fourteen times in seventeen minutes." She chuckled and patted Jeremy's knee.

"And before you ask," Dad said, grinning as he peeked at Jeremy in the rearview mirror, "we'll get to Uncle Jim and Aunt Kate's in one hour and forty-seven minutes."

–Rachel Lubow

How About You?
Have you ever felt like God doesn't see you or care about you? Psalm 13 shows us that you can always talk to God--He welcomes all our questions and feelings. Jesus loves us so much that He died for our sins to give us eternal life with Him, and He sits with us in the hardest parts of our lives. He sees you and cares about you, and He will never forget you or abandon you.

Today's Key Verse:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (NIV) (Psalm 13:1)

Today's Key Thought:
We can bring anything to God