Bible Reading: Psalm 66:16-20

Logan met his friend Brody after school to work on their project for the science fair. "We need to think of a way to show how molecules move around," said Logan. "Then our project will have a better chance of winning."

"Yeah," said Brody. "But how can we show the way molecules move and bang into each other when they're too small for us to see?"

"I don't know," said Logan. "We'll think of something." After discussing it a bit more, the boys agreed to think about it for a day or two.

At dinner that evening, Logan's dad mentioned their friends the Thompsons, who were facing very difficult problems. "They sure need our prayers," said Dad.

Logan sighed. "Do you really think it helps? It seems like we've prayed for them a million times, and I haven't seen a single change yet."

"Don't underestimate the power of prayer," said Dad. "You may not see it, but God is working."

As they ate, Logan told his parents about the project for the science fair. "We learned that everything is made up of tiny particles called molecules, and they're always in motion. Brody and I are trying to figure out how to show the way they move."

"But who knows if molecules actually move around like that?" asked Dad. "I've never seen it! Maybe you should do your project on something else."

"Dad!" said Logan. "Just because you can't see something doesn't mean it's not happening. Scientists have studied molecules really carefully, and they say they move a lot."

Mom smiled. "Your father knows that, Logan. I think he's just trying to give you a new perspective on prayer."

Dad nodded. "We know molecules are always moving even though we can't see them, and prayer often works the same way. We have to trust that God hears our prayers and is working in the lives of the Thompsons, even though we can't see it."

"That's right," said Mom. "Sometimes changes are taking place that aren't visible to us. We need to pray about things that concern us, then trust God and believe He's working even when we don't see what's happening."

–Linda E. Knight

How About You?
Are you confident that God answers prayer--even when you don't see anything happening? He often works in quiet ways, but He's always working. So keep praying. Talk to Him during a daily prayer time and whenever a special need comes to your mind. Know that He hears your prayer and is at work--even when you can't see the results.

Today's Key Verse:
Never stop praying. (NLT) (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Today's Key Thought:
Keep praying--God is at work

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4:8-11

Quinton liked to run, but he was never as fast as his big brothers. He enjoyed painting but never did as well as his older sister, so he didn't do it often. It seemed like everything Quinton did, they could do better than him.

One day, he expressed his feelings to his grandma as he helped her unload groceries from her car.

"There are a lot of things you're good at," Grandma said, handing him a bag to carry inside.

Quinton sighed. "But they're better than me."

Grandma shook her head as she led him into the house. "Not at everything. God has given you special talents too."

"Like what?" Quinton asked.

"You're pretty good when we play board games," Grandma said. "And I love to read the stories you write."

Quinton stuck a few cans into the pantry. "I wish I could be fast like my brothers though."

"Maybe you will be when you're a little older," Grandma said. "But even if you never are, that's okay too. God gives each of us unique talents. It would be boring if we were all the same."

Quinton thought about it. "Yeah, I guess it would be."

"When I was young, I wanted to be an actress like my sister. She was in plays at school and I thought she was so cool. But if I had tried out for the play and made it, then I wouldn't have done cheerleading, and that became something I loved doing that helped me make lasting friendships." Grandma put her arm around Quinton's shoulders. "God made us all unique and gives each of us different talents. But sometimes we get so caught up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget why God gave us our talents in the first place--so we could use them to help others see that we belong to Jesus and show them His love." She kissed his head. "God is happy with you just the way you are, Quinton, and so am I."

"Thanks, Grandma." Quinton hugged her. "If you really like my stories, I can write more of them for you instead of worrying about beating my brothers in a race."

His grandma smiled. "I do, and I would love that."

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
What are some of your special talents? Are you thankful for the way God made you--or are you too busy comparing yourself to your siblings, friends, and everybody else? God made each of us unique so that we could reflect His goodness and love in our own special way. Instead of wishing you could be like somebody else, focus on your own talents and trust God to help you use them to point others to Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:8)

Today's Key Thought:
God made us all unique

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4:8-11

Quinton liked to run, but he was never as fast as his big brothers. He enjoyed painting but never did as well as his older sister, so he didn't do it often. It seemed like everything Quinton did, they could do better than him.

One day, he expressed his feelings to his grandma as he helped her unload groceries from her car.

"There are a lot of things you're good at," Grandma said, handing him a bag to carry inside.

Quinton sighed. "But they're better than me."

Grandma shook her head as she led him into the house. "Not at everything. God has given you special talents too."

"Like what?" Quinton asked.

"You're pretty good when we play board games," Grandma said. "And I love to read the stories you write."

Quinton stuck a few cans into the pantry. "I wish I could be fast like my brothers though."

"Maybe you will be when you're a little older," Grandma said. "But even if you never are, that's okay too. God gives each of us unique talents. It would be boring if we were all the same."

Quinton thought about it. "Yeah, I guess it would be."

"When I was young, I wanted to be an actress like my sister. She was in plays at school and I thought she was so cool. But if I had tried out for the play and made it, then I wouldn't have done cheerleading, and that became something I loved doing that helped me make lasting friendships." Grandma put her arm around Quinton's shoulders. "God made us all unique and gives each of us different talents. But sometimes we get so caught up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget why God gave us our talents in the first place--so we could use them to help others see that we belong to Jesus and show them His love." She kissed his head. "God is happy with you just the way you are, Quinton, and so am I."

"Thanks, Grandma." Quinton hugged her. "If you really like my stories, I can write more of them for you instead of worrying about beating my brothers in a race."

His grandma smiled. "I do, and I would love that."

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
What are some of your special talents? Are you thankful for the way God made you--or are you too busy comparing yourself to your siblings, friends, and everybody else? God made each of us unique so that we could reflect His goodness and love in our own special way. Instead of wishing you could be like somebody else, focus on your own talents and trust God to help you use them to point others to Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:8)

Today's Key Thought:
God made us all unique

Bible Reading: Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:16-18

"Aunt Kelly, take off your sandals!" Harriett exclaimed as she ran into the sand.

Her aunt smiled and removed her sandals before stepping into the sand. "It feels very nice on my feet."

"Let's go by the water," Harriett suggested, "I want to see how warm it is."

Aunt Kelly laughed and followed her niece. "Is it warm?" she asked as she sat down in the sand close to the water.

"Medium warm." Harriett shrugged. "I like it."

"I'm glad you could come visit and enjoy the water before it's too cold," Aunt Kelly said.

"Me too." Harriett bit her lip. "Aunt Kelly, do you remember last time I was here how you said God will forgive me when I sin?"

Aunt Kelly nodded. "I do remember that. I told you that Jesus died on the cross so you could be forgiven for the wrong things you've already done and the ones that will still happen, and you decided to trust Him as your Savior."

Harriett looked at the water for a moment. "Does He really forgive all my sins?"

Aunt Kelly smiled. "Yes, He really forgives them. Not only that, but He forgets about them."

Harriett frowned. "He does? I can't forget them--how does He forget them?"

Aunt Kelly stood up and walked over to the water's edge. "Come over here." She wrote the word sin in the sand. "See this? Let's pretend it's your sin, and the water is God." As she said that, the water washed over the word.

When the water went back, the word sin had vanished. "See?" said Aunt Kelly. "The word I wrote is gone. The water washed it away. That's how God forgives our sins. The Bible says that when we admit we've sinned and trust in Jesus for forgiveness, He will remember our sins no more--He doesn't think about them or ever hold them against us." Aunt Kelly looked at her niece. "We can look up verses that talk about God's forgiveness in your Bible if you'd like. Then we can write them down so you can go home and keep them in your room to remember that when God forgives sin, it's gone forever."

"Can we write them on pink paper?" Harriett asked.

Aunt Kelly smiled. "Pink paper sounds perfect."

–Kimberly Brokish

How About You?
Have you ever sinned and not been able to stop thinking about it, even after asking God for forgiveness? Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions [or sins] from us." That's really far! How awesome is it to know that God loves us so much that He forgives and forgets our sins? Whenever a sin is bothering you, confess it to Him, knowing He will forgive you and not think of it again.

Today's Key Verse:
Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (NKJV) (Hebrews 10:17)

Today's Key Thought:
God forgives and forgets our sins

Bible Reading: Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:16-18

"Aunt Kelly, take off your sandals!" Harriett exclaimed as she ran into the sand.

Her aunt smiled and removed her sandals before stepping into the sand. "It feels very nice on my feet."

"Let's go by the water," Harriett suggested, "I want to see how warm it is."

Aunt Kelly laughed and followed her niece. "Is it warm?" she asked as she sat down in the sand close to the water.

"Medium warm." Harriett shrugged. "I like it."

"I'm glad you could come visit and enjoy the water before it's too cold," Aunt Kelly said.

"Me too." Harriett bit her lip. "Aunt Kelly, do you remember last time I was here how you said God will forgive me when I sin?"

Aunt Kelly nodded. "I do remember that. I told you that Jesus died on the cross so you could be forgiven for the wrong things you've already done and the ones that will still happen, and you decided to trust Him as your Savior."

Harriett looked at the water for a moment. "Does He really forgive all my sins?"

Aunt Kelly smiled. "Yes, He really forgives them. Not only that, but He forgets about them."

Harriett frowned. "He does? I can't forget them--how does He forget them?"

Aunt Kelly stood up and walked over to the water's edge. "Come over here." She wrote the word sin in the sand. "See this? Let's pretend it's your sin, and the water is God." As she said that, the water washed over the word.

When the water went back, the word sin had vanished. "See?" said Aunt Kelly. "The word I wrote is gone. The water washed it away. That's how God forgives our sins. The Bible says that when we admit we've sinned and trust in Jesus for forgiveness, He will remember our sins no more--He doesn't think about them or ever hold them against us." Aunt Kelly looked at her niece. "We can look up verses that talk about God's forgiveness in your Bible if you'd like. Then we can write them down so you can go home and keep them in your room to remember that when God forgives sin, it's gone forever."

"Can we write them on pink paper?" Harriett asked.

Aunt Kelly smiled. "Pink paper sounds perfect."

–Kimberly Brokish

How About You?
Have you ever sinned and not been able to stop thinking about it, even after asking God for forgiveness? Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions [or sins] from us." That's really far! How awesome is it to know that God loves us so much that He forgives and forgets our sins? Whenever a sin is bothering you, confess it to Him, knowing He will forgive you and not think of it again.

Today's Key Verse:
Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (NKJV) (Hebrews 10:17)

Today's Key Thought:
God forgives and forgets our sins