Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11; Colossians 1:9-10

"This giant oak tree is what gave Oak Park its name," the tour guide told the kids on their field trip. Elijah listened attentively. He loved history and learning things like this.

Back home later that day, Elijah told his mom about the tour. "That big oak tree survived the Civil War, a flood, and six fires," he said.

"Wow!" said Mom. "That's amazing."

"It kept on growing," said Elijah, "even though the odds were a hundred to one against it. The oak is one of the slowest-growing trees in the world, but it's also one of the strongest. It survives things that cause other trees to die."

"Hmm," said Mom. "You know, Elijah, you're something like that tree."

Elijah was surprised. "Me? I didn't survive a war or a flood or even one fire--let alone six!"

Mom laughed. "No, but I still think you're like that tree."

"How?" asked Elijah.

"Well," said Mom, "for one thing, the oak grows slowly, and you--"

Elijah interrupted her. "You always say I'm growing up too fast!"

Mom smiled. "That's true--physically. But I was thinking of the way most of us grow spiritually. As Christians, it's often easy to wonder if we're making any progress in becoming more like Jesus."

Elijah nodded as he recalled some trouble he'd gotten into recently.

"You may grow slowly in Christ," said Mom, "but like that oak, you do grow steadily. And you survive worse things than war or floods. You survive attacks from Satan and struggles with temptation."

"But I still do wrong things," Elijah pointed out.

Mom nodded. "I know--I do too. All Christians give in to temptation and sin sometimes. But the fact that you feel bad when you sin--and that you don't want to do it again--shows that you're continuing to grow."

"Really?" Elijah smiled. "That's pretty cool."

"Have faith that God is working to make you grow to be more like Jesus," Mom told him. "Keep working with Him by admitting when you sin and trusting Him to help you change your habits--even when the growing gets tough!"

–Nathan Runyon

How About You?
Do you ever wonder if you're growing spiritually? If you're a Christian, God is always working in your heart to make you more like Jesus--even when it's hard for you to detect. When you do something wrong, confess your sin and ask God for forgiveness. Then look to Him for the strength you need to resist temptation, and trust Him to help you grow in Him.

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

Today's Key Thought:
Christians grow in Jesus

Bible Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Jude was doing his schoolwork at the kitchen table when Dad got home. They talked for a little while, and then Dad had a question for Mom. "Are you getting as much as I am out of that devotional we both decided to use?" he asked her. "Today's Bible reading helped me make a decision about a problem I had at work."

"That's great!" said Mom. "What was today's reading about? I'm afraid I haven't gotten around to reading it the last couple of days," she admitted. "I've been so busy lately! The hours fly by so fast, and I never get everything done."

"Oh, Martha, Martha," Dad said lovingly.

"Um, Dad? Mom's name is Jennifer, not Martha," Jude reminded his father.

Mom and Dad both laughed. "Martha is the name we use when one of us gets too busy and starts acting like Martha in the Bible," Dad explained. "Remember that story? Martha was so busy preparing and serving food when Jesus and His disciples came over that she didn't have time to sit and learn at Jesus's feet."

"I have to admit, that's what's been happening to me lately," said Mom. "I've allowed things to keep me from what's really important--spending time with Jesus and letting Him remind me of the peace, hope, and joy I have in Him." She pointed to the floor. "I could have let this floor stay dirty a little longer instead of mopping it this morning, and I suppose it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had bought cookies to bring to small group tonight instead of making them."

Dad smiled. "Well, the day isn't over yet. Why don't I cook dinner so you can do your Bible reading?"

Mom gave Dad a kiss. "That would be wonderful. I'll just go into the other room and sit at Jesus's feet for a few minutes."

Just then Kylie came bursting into the kitchen. "Where's my Bible?" she demanded. "I'm in charge of devotions tonight at youth group and I haven't had a minute to prepare all week!"

"Oh, Martha, Martha," said Mom. Jude and Dad laughed. "You explain," Mom told them as she left the kitchen.

–Lyndel F. Walker

How About You?
Are all the things going on in your life keeping you from spending time with Jesus? Even if they're good things you should do, nothing is more important than sitting at Jesus's feet. As we read His words in the Bible, pray, and worship Him with other believers, He refreshes our souls. Make time with Him a priority so He can speak to your heart.

Today's Key Verse:
Be still, and know that I am God. (NKJV) (Psalm 46:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Make time for Jesus

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31

"That was a great circus show, wasn't it, Dad?" Brandon's eyes were wide with excitement as he and his father made their way to the car. "Especially the high-wire act! I really liked that."

Dad grinned. "That was pretty exciting, but it was kinda scary when that one man was riding on the other's shoulders."

"Yeah!" said Brandon. "I was surprised they didn't both get hurt when the one guy carrying the other lost his balance and they both fell. Good thing there was a net there to catch them!"

"Yes," said Dad, starting the car. "Without the net, that could have been a real tragedy."

Brandon nodded. "Those guys sure do have a lot of nerve. I wouldn't want to ride on anybody's shoulders way up high off the ground! In fact, I don't think I'd want to be up on a high wire at all."

Dad laughed. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. But you know what? That high wire act is a little bit like life in general."

"It is?" asked Brandon. "What do you mean?"

"Well, the man on the other person's shoulders was putting all his trust in his partner's ability to safely walk the rope, right?"

Brandon nodded. "Yeah, but that guy couldn't do it. If the net hadn't caught them, they might have been killed!"

"Well, we're all something like the man who trusted his partner," said Dad. "We all put our trust in someone or something. Some people put their trust in money or in their jobs. Some put their trust in other people to help them through tough times. But when those things fail…well, tragedy often follows."

"That's kinda like what my Sunday school teacher told us in church last week," Brandon said. "She said we should always trust Jesus to take care of us because He never fails."

"Right," said Dad. "Everyone faces difficulties and even tragedies in life, but only Jesus can save us from sin and give us eternal life. That's why we can trust Him to carry us through life's troubles. When we place our hope and trust in the things of this world or even other people, they will let us down. But Jesus will never fail us."

–Richard S. Maffeo

How About You?
Who or what do you put your trust in? Your family or friends? Money? Doing well in school and getting a job someday? Those things definitely help in life, but none of them can be trusted completely. People make mistakes, and money and jobs can be lost. Jesus is the only one who will never fail--now or for all eternity. Put your trust in Him. (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:
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. (NKJV) (Psalm 20:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus can be trusted

Bible Reading: Psalm 107:8-9; Hebrews 5:12-14

"Why does Pastor Evans have to preach such long sermons?" grumbled Jasper on the way home from church. "It's always so boring!"

"I actually wished Pastor Evans hadn't quit so soon," said Dad. "He helped me understand some verses that had been hard for me to grasp before."

"Well, my Sunday school class is always really boring too," added Jasper.

"My class isn't boring," said his sister Karis. "Today we talked about the Israelites in the wilderness and learned a new song. What was your class about?"

Jasper shrugged. "I don't know--I wasn't really paying attention."

After lunch, Jasper put some scraps in the cat's food dish. "Come here, Mac! Look what I've got for you." The cat walked to the dish, sniffed the food, and walked away with his tail held high. Jasper shook his head. "That cat has no idea what's good," he muttered.

Karis was standing at the window, looking out. "Come see the baby birds in their nest! The mother bird brought food for them, and they all have their mouths wide open!"

Jasper went to look. "Well, they're way smarter than Mac. He wouldn't even taste the food I offered him."

"I guess he's not hungry," said Karis.

"Grandma always says he's just finicky--choosy about his food. I'm sure he'd like what I gave him if he'd try it, but he won't."

Mom walked up behind them. "That's probably why you were bored at church today while the rest of us got a lot out of it."

"I was bored because Mac won't eat?" asked Jasper. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that, like the baby birds, we were hungry--we had hungry hearts. They were open and eager to hear from Jesus as we listened to see what spiritual food He was offering through our pastor and Sunday school teachers. But like Mac, you wouldn't even try it. You expected to be bored, so you didn't even bother listening and thinking about what was being said." Mom placed a hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Next time, how about really listening? Think about the lessons and how they apply to your life. Ask God to give you a hungry heart with an appetite for spiritual food."

–Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
When you read your Bible or go to church, is your heart open to learning what God wants to say to you? Or do you just count the minutes until it's over? Jesus wants to fill your heart with good spiritual food from His Word and remind you of His love and promises. But that can't happen if you close yourself off and refuse to listen. Trust Him to open your heart to His Word so He can nourish your soul.

Today's Key Verse:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (NKJV) (Matthew 5:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Open your heart to God's Word

Bible Reading: Proverbs 25:20; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

*Editor's note: This story may not be suitable for young children.

Madelyn buried her face in her hands. "I wish I'd been nicer to him."

Callie's face was red from crying. "I'm mad that he died so young. It's not fair."

Mrs. Nelson sat down at the empty desk beside them. She wiped her eyes with a crumpled tissue. "Jason's car accident was a terrible tragedy. He will be missed."

Tommy plunked down in the seat next to Callie. "I wish everyone would stop crying already. Jason was a Christian, so he's in heaven now. Can we not talk about it anymore?"

"Tommy, it's okay for us to be sad right now," Mrs. Nelson said softly. "It's okay to be upset about losing a classmate."

"But there's nothing we can do about it. He's gone. Can't we just cheer up?"

"We could," said Mrs. Nelson. "But we should grieve with those whose hearts are hurting."

"Well, I don't want to." Tommy grabbed his book and walked to the reading corner.

Mrs. Nelson followed and sat in the bean bag chair next to Tommy. "Are you cold, Tommy?" she asked, pointing to the blanket draped over his legs.

"A little, I guess." He tucked the fleece blanket under his knees.

"How would you feel if I took the blanket away?" asked Mrs. Nelson.

Tommy glanced up sharply. "Why would you do that?"

"I wouldn't, Tommy. That would be mean. That blanket is giving you warmth and comfort, right?"

Tommy shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

"Well, right now, we're all sad about Jason passing away. In Proverbs it says that trying to cheer up a sad person is like taking a blanket away from someone who's cold."

"I wouldn't do that to anyone," said Tommy.

"I know you wouldn't. But right now your classmates are hurting, and they need a blanket of comfort. That's one of the ways we show others the love of Jesus--by comforting and supporting them when they're sad and sharing their grief, even when we know the person they're grieving is in heaven."

Tommy thought for a moment, then loosened the blanket and laid it over Mrs. Nelson's knees. "I'm sorry you're sad right now."

Mrs. Nelson smiled. "Thanks, Tommy."

–Tannis Oliveri

How About You?
Do you know someone who is dealing with grief? Sometimes it makes us uncomfortable when people are sad and we want to cheer them up. But the best way to show them God's love is to be sad with them and help carry their load of grief. Jesus mourns with us when we're sad and comforts us. You don't have to have the right words, just be there and grieve with those who grieve.

Today's Key Verse:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (NKJV) (Romans 12:15)

Today's Key Thought:
Grieve with those who grieve