Bible Reading: Psalm 51:10; Philippians 4:6-9

"Whatcha doing, Trev?"

Trevor jumped as he quickly clicked to a different tab on his computer. "Nothing, Dad. Just looking up something for homework."

His father looked at him curiously, then said, "Well, supper's almost ready. Come set the table."

Trevor's fingers trembled as he clicked out of the tabs on his computer. His heart raced as he went to help his dad.

Everything seemed normal during supper, but he still felt nervous and wondered what his dad had seen. After devotions, Trevor started to leave, but Dad stopped him. "Hey, Trevor, help me wash these dishes, okay?"

Trevor tried to act natural. "Sure, Dad." He grabbed a towel. To his surprise, Dad took a plate, dipped it in the soapy water, and set it in Trevor's side of the sink. He dipped another one and set it on top of the first one. Trevor finally said something. "Dad! What are you doing? Those aren't clean! You have to wipe off the food."

"Oh! I do? A few specks of food won't hurt any of us. Just rinse and dry them." He kept passing the dirty dishes.

"We can't eat off dirty plates, Dad! You have to wash them." Trevor put the plates back into the soapy water.

"You're right." Dad wiped off a plate and handed it to Trevor. "Is that better?"

"Yes. Finally! Why were you doing that?"

"Well," Dad said, "I think you have some cleaning up to do too. I saw what was on your computer."

"You did?" Trevor sighed. "I'm sorry. My friend was looking at some bad sites, and he showed me. The first time I just looked for a couple of minutes, but then I kept going back and looking again."

"Trev, when you look at websites like that, it can become an addiction that's tough to break--trust me, I know."

Trevor looked at the floor. "I don't want to look, but I'm afraid I'll look anyway."

Dad put a hand on Trevor's shoulder. "We'll get you help, Trev. And you can go to Jesus for help too. He loves you so much that He died for you, and He will always forgive you when you sin and help you change your ways. Trust Him to help you turn away from sinful things and focus on the good things He's put in your life."

–Robyn Mulder

How About You?
Do you look at things you know you shouldn't? The internet has many good things to offer, but it also has many sites that are bad. If you've gotten into the habit of looking at bad sites, talk to an adult and get help before it becomes an addiction. God tells us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable--things that go along with the new life Jesus has given us. Trust Him to help you set your mind on good things.

Today's Key Verse:
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. (NKJV) (Psalm 101:3 )

Today's Key Thought:
Be careful what you look at

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-10

Malachi and Nevaeh watched their toy robots march around the room. Malachi's was made of clear plastic, and they could see working parts and flashing lights inside the robot's body. "My robot looks better than yours," said Nevaeh. "It's nice and shiny, and you can't see all the ugly parts inside."

"Well, robots aren't meant to look good," said Malachi. "They're meant to do cool stuff! Mine can probably go faster than yours. Let's race them upstairs."

The kids were just about to begin the robot race when there was a loud clap of thunder and the lights went out. "What happened?" asked Nevaeh.

"It must be the storm," said Malachi. "Let's go downstairs." They headed toward the stairs, but it was dark, and they had to feel their way along the wall. "Wait a minute!" said Malachi, and he flipped on his robot. The lights began to flash, and soon the kids were downstairs in the living room, guided by the light from the robot.

Soon car lights appeared in the driveway, and then Mom and Dad followed the beams of their cell phones into the living room. "You're home!" exclaimed Nevaeh. "It was spooky in the dark!"

"My robot helped though," said Malachi. He proudly demonstrated how his robot had saved the day. "Nevaeh was bragging about her shiny robot, but it was my see-through one that gave us light."

"Well, mine still looks better," insisted Nevaeh.

Dad laughed. "Your robots remind me of Christians," he said as Mom went to find some candles. "Can you guess why?"

"Hmm. I know!" said Malachi. "Christians are supposed to be lights in the world, and my robot is like that." He frowned. "Nevaeh's isn't, though."

"No, but hers illustrates a different way Christians can be," Dad said. "Sometimes we hide the light of Jesus because we're more concerned with how we appear to others. Jesus is our light, and His light shines through us as we show His love to the world with the help of the Holy Spirit."

Neveah tilted her head. "So, just like we saw the light through Malachi's robot, the world should see Jesus through us." She then looked at her brother and said, "But I bet mine is still faster."

"It's on!" exclaimed Malachi as he took his robot and bolted upstairs for a rematch.

–Joyce R. Lee

How About You?
Did you know that if you know Jesus as your Savior, you have His light inside you? As we show others His love through our words and actions, we are shining His light into the world. Don't hide God's light by following selfish desires or worrying what others might think of you. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you be a shining light for Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV) (Matthew 5:16)

Today's Key Thought:
Shine for Jesus

Bible Reading: Mark 2:1-12

Jackson stood in the backyard, looking up at the roof of his house. It was a busy place. A remodeling crew climbed up and down ladders, working on the rectangular-shaped hole in the roof. "Having a skylight will really brighten up our dark kitchen," said Dad as he joined him.

"This reminds me of a Bible story we learned about in church last week," Jackson said as he watched the workers carefully lifting the window. "It was about four men who brought their sick friend to Jesus. They cut a hole in the roof and let him down through it to where Jesus was."

Dad nodded. "I know the story. There was such a crowd around the house that they couldn't get the paralyzed man in through the door."

"Even with power tools, it's a big job to cut a hole in the roof," said Jackson, standing back to watch the men work. "My teacher said that in Bible times, roofs would have been flatter with stairs going to the top." After a moment, Jackson sighed. "Anyway, the story made me kind of sad. Cole and I talked about how we wish we could be like those men and take Evan to Jesus to be healed."

Dad gave him a sad smile. "You can do that in prayer," he replied.

"We have, but Evan still has cancer," said Jackson. "Doesn't Jesus heal anymore?"

"Yes, Jesus still heals," Dad assured him. "Sometimes He uses doctors to do that; other times He heals with a miracle. But sometimes--like with your grandmother--He brings the person to be in His presence in heaven, fully and forever, where there is no sickness."

Jackson wasn't satisfied. "But is there anything Cole and I can do to help Evan besides pray?"

"Visit him whenever you can," replied Dad. "And tell him about things like the skylight and what's going on at school and church. If I were sick, it would make me feel better just to know I had friends who would gladly put me on a stretcher, carry me up to the roof, and cut a hole to get me to Jesus. Let Evan know that since you can't do that, you'll keep on taking him to Jesus in your prayers."

–Ruth McQuilkin

How About You?
Do you have a friend or relative who is very ill? Do you feel like there's nothing you can do to help? You can pray for that person, trusting God to work in the best possible way. Jesus is with us when we're hurting, and He listens to our prayers. You can also encourage that person by sending cards or messages and visiting them. Do what you can to let them know you care--and that Jesus does too.

Today's Key Verse:
Comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (NKJV) (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Today's Key Thought:
Comfort those who are sick

Bible Reading: John 1:9-13; Acts 2:36-39; Romans 10:13

Damon leaned back in his chair and started whistling.

"Done with your math already?" Mom asked.

"Yep. I'm the fastest fourth grader in this school!"

Mom laughed. "You're the only fourth grader. I know it's time for your break, but could you play with Letty for a little bit while I make lunch?"

Damon nodded and sat down on the living room floor. Letty set her coloring book aside and sat down next to him. Damon took some fence from Letty's toy barn and made a fenced area. He had already built some block houses while playing with Letty that morning. He found a farmer and construction worker and put them inside the town's walls.

Damon took the construction worker and said in a deep voice, "This is the best town I've ever made. We need more people for my town."

Letty picked up the farmer and pushed the construction worker aside. "It's not your town. It's mine. And there's not enough room for you here."

Damon jumped his construction worker up on a wall. "What? I put the walls up and made the houses and I even put you here, Miss Farmer. What do you mean?"

Letty turned the farmer's back to Damon's construction worker and said, "I'm sorry, but you have to leave."

Mom stood in the doorway and said, "This reminds me of what we read in the Bible this morning."

Damon got up from the floor. "You mean the part about Jesus coming to His own people and they wouldn't receive Him, even though He made them and the whole world?"

"Yes," Mom answered. "They didn't believe Jesus was who He said He was. But after Jesus died on the cross and rose again, His disciples convinced them that Jesus was both Lord over everything and the one sent to save them. When they realized they'd rejected the Son of God, some of them asked for forgiveness and trusted Jesus to save them."

Letty's little farmer drove her tractor through a fence. "Can you help me, Damon?" she pleaded. "It's broken!"

As Damon put the fence back up, Mom said, "At least she knows who to call for help."

–Laura Roesler

How About You?
Do you know that Jesus made you and the whole world? The Bible says that all things were made by God through Jesus. He has power over everything, yet Jesus became human and died for our sins so we could be saved. Have you trusted Him as your Lord and Savior? The Bible says that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord and receives Jesus as their Savior becomes a child of God. (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:
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. (NKJV) (John 1:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus as Lord and Savior

Bible Reading: Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 4:20–5:2

"Isaac, I need you to go to Aunt Jane's house and give her this book. She needs it for her class tonight."

Isaac groaned. He used to like walking to Aunt Jane's house. But now mean Mr. Tindall spent a lot of time in his yard, and he always scowled at Isaac. And recently a new family moved into the neighborhood, and they had a gigantic, growly dog. Isaac usually liked dogs--but not this one.

Mom seemed to sense Isaac's thoughts and looked out the window. "No dogs in sight, Isaac. And give Mr. Tindall a chance."

Isaac took the book and started up the sidewalk, but sure enough, the growly dog bounded down the driveway. Isaac took off as quickly as he could.

"What's wrong, Isaac?" Aunt Jane asked when he shot through the door.

"That--that--dog!" Isaac could hardly breathe. "He's mean!"

"That's Riley," said Aunt Jane. "He just looks mean. Wait! I have an idea." She went to the kitchen and came back with a handful of dog biscuits. "Here, take some dog biscuits, and when Riley runs out, throw them to him!"

Isaac took the biscuits and headed home. Sure enough, the growly dog came running down the driveway. "Here, Riley," Isaac called and tossed him the biscuits. Riley happily chomped away and Isaac hurried the rest of the way home, not even noticing Mr. Tindall's scowl as he walked by.

"Everything go okay?" Mom asked Isaac when he got home.

"I guess," said Isaac. "I gave Riley some dog biscuits, so he wasn't growly."

"Hmm," said Mom. "Maybe you should try that with Mr. Tindall."

"Throw Mr. Tindall dog biscuits?" Isaac asked. "Oh, wait--you mean that maybe if I did something nice for Mr. Tindall, he wouldn't scowl at me anymore."

"Exactly," said Mom. "But even if it didn't stop him from scowling, you'd be showing him the love of Jesus. He tells us to be kind to others even when they're not kind to us because He showed us that kind of love by dying for our sins when we were His enemies."

The next day, Isaac went back to Aunt Jane's to get the book. But before he went, he grabbed another handful of dog biscuits--and in the other hand he carefully carried a plate of cookies for Mr. Tindall.

–Linda Weddle

How About You?
Do you avoid certain people because you think they're mean? Have you tried showing them kindness instead? Even if they're not nice back to you right away--or ever--God says to show kindness toward everyone because He showed kindness to you by sending Jesus to die for your sins. Show kindness to others and ask God to use it to touch their hearts.

Today's Key Verse:
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV) (Ephesians 4:32)

Today's Key Thought:
Show kindness to others