Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-34

Elliot looked out the kitchen window. It had rained all morning, but now the sun was shining brightly. The leaves on the big tree outside were golden and seemed to glow in the sunlight. If only those leaves could be turned into real gold, thought Elliot. Then Mom and I could solve all our problems. He sighed. He couldn't help worrying now that his mom had lost her job. Things had already been tight before--how would they manage now? Turning toward his mother, he asked, "What are we going to do about money, Mom?"

"Don't you worry about that," said Mom. "I have a bit saved up, and I'm sure I'll find another job soon. There are lots of jobs available in the medical field."

As Mom stood beside Elliot at the window, several sparrows swooped down and perched on the volleyball net someone had set up in the courtyard of their apartment building. Under the weight of the birds, the net sagged and swayed in the wind. Soon the thin, weak poles that supported the net became uprooted, and everything crashed to the ground. Elliot and Mom watched as the frightened birds flew away.

"You know, Elliot," said Mom, "that flimsy net is like money and material things. When we count on them to hold us up in times of trouble, they always fail, just like that net failed those birds. Aren't you glad we can count on someone who never fails?"

"You mean God, don't you?" said Elliot.

"That's right," said Mom. "I'm thinking of a verse you learned at camp this summer--the one about birds. Do you remember it?"

"About birds?" Elliot thought about it. "I think I remember. We learned Matthew 6:26, which says, 'Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?'"

Mom nodded. "God takes care of the birds, and He'll provide for our needs too. Jesus has already provided for our biggest need of all by saving us from sin and giving us eternal life. Because of that, He is always with us, and we can trust Him to take care of us."

Elliot smiled. "I'm glad He never fails."

– Dorothy R. King

How About You?
Do you know someone who is out of work? Or maybe you're worried your own family might not have enough money for all the things you need. Pray about it, and trust God to provide. He loves you so much that He sent His own Son to die for your sins, and He cares more about you than you could ever imagine. You can trust Him to provide you with everything you need.

Today's Key Verse:
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:
God provides all you need

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:14-18

"Okay, class, change of plans," called Miss Allen from the front of the bus. Ana could barely hear her because of the wind and rain beating against the bus windows. "Due to the storm, we're not going to be able to visit the zoo today after all. However, the state capitol is not far away, and they said they could fit us in for a last-minute tour, so we'll be going there instead."

All the kids groaned except for Ana's friend Evelyn, who bounced up and down in the seat next to her.

When they got to the capitol building, a tour guide greeted them at the door and led them down a long hallway decorated with gaudy statues.

"This is boring," one of the boys complained. He tugged on the tour guide's sleeve. "Can we see the governor?"

The tour guide shook his head. "As much as he would like to, the governor isn't able to visit with every school class that comes through. Thousands of kids visit the building each year."

Just then several important-looking people emerged from the elevator.

"That's the governor in the gray suit," the tour guide whispered.

Suddenly Evelyn started running toward the group of people. "Uncle Mike!" she called out.

The governor turned and held out his arms when he saw Evelyn to give her a hug, then he walked her back to her class, who were all staring at them open-mouthed. "My niece tells me your field trip to the zoo didn't work out," he said. "Maybe you kids would like to see my office instead?"

That night Ana excitedly told her family about everything her class had seen at the capitol that day, thanks to Evelyn.

"Like they say, it all depends on who you know," said her older brother.

"True," said Dad. "Evelyn gave you access to the governor. She was your go-between."

Ana smiled. "I know what you're going to say next, Dad. In our devotions this week, we talked about Jesus being our go-between--the mediator between us and God. Through Him we have access to our heavenly Father because Jesus paid the price for our sin and made us right with God."

"I'm glad you were listening, Ana--and your trip to the capitol today is a perfect example."

– Linda Weddle

How About You?
Have you ever gotten to meet someone well-known or go somewhere special because of who you know? Did you know that, because of Jesus, you can have access to God? You can't approach God on your own because of your sin, but Jesus died to take your sins away. Anyone who trusts in Him has full access to 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:
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. (NIV) (1 Timothy 2:5)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus is our mediator

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:13-16

"Whenever I get home from school, all I want is food that's cool," chanted Marina, making up the rhyme as she opened the freezer and took out an ice cream bar. She grinned at her brother Archer.

Archer rolled his eyes and made up a rhyme of his own. "I think your rhyme is kind of sad--your poetry is really bad."

Marina laughed and went outside to where her mother was working in the garden. "Hello, Mother with a thumb that's green. You have the best vegetables I've seen."

Mom smiled. "Still working on that poem you need for school?"

"I'm trying, but all I can think of are silly things," said Marina.

When Dad arrived home, Marina greeted him with another one of her rhymes. "Dad, your work day is finally done. Now it's time to have some fun!"

"Oh, Marina, I think your poems are getting worse," said Archer. "How about this? Mom, that chicken pasta looks so yummy. I want to put it in my tummy!"

Dad laughed and joined in. "My family's always such a delight. It's a joy to be with them each night." As he sat down at the table, he said, "Actually, I know of a very special poem. It's mentioned in the Bible--in Ephesians 2:10."

"That was our verse at church last week!" exclaimed Marina. "It says, 'For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.' But that doesn't rhyme like a poem, and it doesn't say anything about a poem."

"The word handiwork comes from the Greek word poiema--that's the word we get our English word poem from," Dad explained. "So to say we are God's handiwork is like saying we are His poem."

"I like that," said Marina with a grin.

Dad smiled. "And just like a poem can bring joy to people through its words, you can bring joy to people through your good works--the good things you do for others that show them the love of Jesus. God created us to do these things and gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us in doing them. We are His poems that tell the story of the great things He has done for us."

Marina's eyes lit up. "God is our Creator, and He made us for something greater!"

– Lyndel F. Walker

How About You?
Do you have a favorite poem? If you're a Christian, remember that you are God's poem, created to love Him and bless others. God created you with unique gifts and passions, and He gave you the Holy Spirit to help you do the good things He calls you to do. When you love and help other people, you're pointing them toward your Author--Jesus Christ.

Today's Key Verse:
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV) (Ephesians 2:10)

Today's Key Thought:
Christians are God's poems

Bible Reading: Psalm 57:7-11

"Let's get ready for church," said Dad. "We don't want to be late."

"Dad says that every week," Amos told his sister, Maggie. "We should get ready early some Sunday, just to see if it's really Dad talking or if it's a recording that plays every week." Dad grinned and nodded.

When they arrived at church, no other cars were there. "That's odd," said Mom. "I wonder what--" She stopped and pulled out her phone. "Oh no!" she exclaimed. "We're an hour early! Last spring we moved the clocks ahead an hour, and last night we were supposed to set them back again." They could hardly believe that no one had remembered to change the clocks around the house.

"While we wait, let's get ready for church," suggested Dad.

Maggie giggled. "It must be a recording after all, Amos. We woke up, ate breakfast, cleaned up, got dressed, and even came to church a whole hour early--but the recording is still going off!"

Dad laughed with the rest of the family. "We prepared our bodies," he said, "but it would be good to prepare our hearts for worship too, and today we have time."

"We can't feed our hearts breakfast," said Amos.

"Sure we can. We can feed on God's Word for a few minutes." Dad opened his Bible and read a short passage aloud.

"Okay, but we can't wash our hearts, can we?" asked Maggie when Dad finished reading.

"Sure we can," said Dad. "We can search our hearts and confess sins to Jesus, and He'll cleanse us."

"We can't dress our hearts though," said Amos.

"Sure we can!" Maggie echoed Dad's words before he could say them. Then she looked at her parents. "But how?"

"How about by praising God?" suggested Mom. "Singing praises to Him can help set our mood for worship. What should we sing?" Amos suggested a praise song, and Maggie wanted an old hymn she liked, so the family sang them both.

"Maybe we should do this every Sunday and really get ready for church," Maggie said as other cars began to arrive.

"Is that my recording I hear?" asked Dad. They all left the car smiling.

– Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Do you prepare your heart as well as your body for worship? It's good to be clean and look nice, but it's also important to make sure your heart is ready to worship God and learn from His Word. Next time you get ready for a church service, pray that God would soften your heart and open your eyes and ears to the things He has for you.

Today's Key Verse:
Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart. (NKJV) (Psalm 10:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Prepare your heart for worship

Bible Reading: John 3:3; 14:1-6; 1 Peter 1:3-5

"Do you really believe what your Sunday school teacher said?" asked Oscar. He was spending the weekend with his friend Michael while his parents were out of town. "Your teacher said some people won't go to heaven. If that's true, who gets to go? Do you? Do I?"

"Like Mr. George said, only people who trust Jesus as their Savior will go to heaven," Michael replied.

"Well, I don't get it," said Oscar. "Can we ask your dad?" Michael nodded, and the boys went to the living room where Michael's father was reading. Oscar cleared his throat. "Hey, Mr. Woods, everybody will go to heaven, right?"

Mr. Woods shook his head. "Not everybody." He looked at Oscar and rubbed his chin. "Oscar, when you go home after school each day, do you ever ask yourself, 'Will Mom let me stay for dinner?' Or, 'Will my parents give me a bed to sleep in tonight?' Or maybe, 'What will I do if Mom and Dad don't let me in the house today?' Do questions like that ever come to your mind?"

Oscar laughed at such a ridiculous idea. "Of course not! I'm their kid, so it's my home."

"Well, it's the same way with God's family," said Mr. Woods. "When you trust Jesus as your Savior, you become a child of God--part of His family--and your home is in heaven with Him. If you haven't trusted in Jesus, you're not part of God's family, and heaven isn't your home."

Michael turned to his friend and asked, "Are you part of God's family, Oscar?" Slowly, Oscar shook his head.

"You can be," Mr. Woods told him. "You were physically born into your parents' family, so you're their son. To be part of God's family, you need to be born again--not physically, but spiritually."

"How do I do that?" asked Oscar.

"That's the best part--God has already done all the work for us! Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again so that we could have eternal life with Him. When we trust that His work is enough to make us part of God's family, we have a home with Him forever." Mr. Woods picked up his Bible. "Come sit and let me explain, okay?"

Oscar nodded. "Okay," he said and took a seat.

– Nani T. Bell

How About You?
Is your home in heaven with Jesus? The Bible says that everyone who trusts Jesus as their Savior is born into God's family, and their home is with Him. The only way to have eternal life is through Jesus. Trust in Him today, and you will have a home with Him in heaven forever. Is your home in heaven with Jesus? The Bible says that everyone who trusts Jesus as their Savior is born into God's family, and their home is with Him. The only way to have eternal life is through Jesus. Trust in Him today, and you will have a home with Him in heaven forever. (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:
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. (NLT) (Philippians 3:20)

Today's Key Thought:
Heaven is home for Christians