Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:29-32; 5:1-2

Journee watched eagerly as her grandmother began to make popcorn. "Tell me about school, Journee," said Grandma. "Have you made new friends?"

Journee sighed. "Not really. I've tried to make friends, but it's not easy to move to a new town and go to a new school, Grandma."

As Journee talked about the kids at school, Grandma noticed that she complained about many of them. "Are you being friendly to them?" Grandma asked. Journee shrugged, watching as Grandma poured popcorn into a bowl and handed it to her.

Journee took the bowl and began to eat the popcorn. But then she frowned and put the bowl down. "It needs salt," she said.

"Oh, that's right!" said Grandma. "I forgot the kind I popped was salt-free--Grandpa wasn't allowed to have salt for a while, you know." She reached for the salt shaker. "I'm wondering if your attempts to make friends might be something like this popcorn," she added.

"Like popcorn?" asked Journee. "What do you mean?"

"Well, without salt, there isn't much flavor to popcorn," said Grandma. "The Bible says our speech is like that too--it needs salt. I'm just wondering if you're using it."

Journee made a face. "You're not saying I should carry a salt shaker around and sprinkle some on my tongue before I talk, are you?"

Grandma laughed and shook her head. "No, but you need to recognize that if your words are negative, complaining, or focused only on yourself, people won't want any more after the first taste. But if your words are seasoned with salt--if you're saying things that are helpful and kind and let people know you care about them--they'll like talking with you and will come back for more." She handed Journee the bowl of popcorn. "Try this again," said Grandma. "See how it is now."

Journee took the bowl and put some in her mouth. "Yum!" she said. "Salt really makes a difference!"

Grandma nodded. "Ask God to help you use a little salt at school tomorrow too. Since you know Jesus, you can show the same love and care for others that He does. Trust Him to help you season your words with His love and be a friend like Him."

–Sheri Shaw

How About You?
When you talk, do you often complain or put others down? Are your conversations mostly about yourself and what you're dealing with? Or do you ask others about their lives and say things that are kind and encouraging? Try adding a little salt to your words by saying things that show others you care about them. Let them see that you can be a kind, caring friend like Jesus by seasoning your words with His love.

Today's Key Verse:
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. (CSB) (Colossians 4:6 )

Today's Key Thought:
Speak kind, caring words

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-6; John 3:16-17

"Dad, how many people are on earth?" asked Sophia one evening.

"I don't remember exactly," said Dad. "Billions. Did you talk about that in school?"

"No," said Sophia, "but our teacher at church talked about how God loves every person, and some of us were wondering how many people that would be."

"Well, I don't know the number, but your teacher is right--God does love each person," Dad replied. "He loves us all so much that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world."

"Since there are so many people, you'd think He'd forget who's who," said Sophia. "I mean, lots of girls have brown hair and brown eyes and are named Sophia. There are even two in my class! So how does God know which one is me?" She grinned. "You know, the one hoping for a new bike for her birthday!"

Dad laughed. "Don't worry, honey. God knows you're the one who wants a new bike--and I can't seem to forget either!"

Mom came in and picked up her sweater. "The cake-baking contest at the school gym is tonight, and I'm ready to leave. Who wants to come along?"

"We all do," said Dad. "Let's go!"

At the gym, cakes on identical glass holders filled several tables. "They're all alike!" exclaimed Sophia. "Except some are white and some are chocolate."

"They're being tested strictly for taste, not looks," said Mom, "so the rules said they were to have no decorations. But I know which one is mine." Her eyes searched each table. "There!" Mom pointed to the table with chocolate cakes. "The second one from the end--that one's mine."

"Are you sure?" Sophia asked. "It looks the same as the others to me."

"Not to me," said Mom. "And yes, I'm sure. I made it, and I see little differences, like how the frosting is swirled."

Dad smiled at Sophia. "Remember what we were talking about at home? God made you, and you are very special to Him. No two people look the same to Him--He made each of us unique and knows everything about us. Mom knows her cake, and God knows you. There's no way He'd mix you up with anyone else."

–Suzanne Daly

How About You?
Do you ever wonder if God knows who you are? He does! He created you and made you the way you are, and He knows everything about you. The Bible says He even knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). He sent His own Son to die for you so you could be part of His family. Know that He loves you and cares about every part of your life.

Today's Key Verse:
This is what the Lord says--the one who created you…"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine." (CSB) (Isaiah 43:1)

Today's Key Thought:
God knows you

Bible Reading: Luke 12:15-21

"La Noche Triste," murmured Harrison as his sister Cara entered the living room. "I gotta remember that--it might be on our test tomorrow."

"What does it mean?" asked Cara.

"It's Spanish for 'The Night of Sorrows.' You'll learn about it next year," Harrison said as he closed his social studies book.

"Why is it called that?" Cara wanted to know.

"Well, it's something that happened more than four hundred years ago," said Harrison. "The Aztecs--one of the native people groups in Mexico--had a great city on an island. A Spanish leader by the name of Cortés was able to take his army into the city because the Aztec ruler thought the Spanish leader was a god.

"But the Spanish were hungry for money and power, which made the Aztecs distrustful of them," Harrison continued. "After hearing rumors that the Aztecs might try to kill them, the Spanish attacked and killed a number of Aztec people at a festival. Then Cortés and his men knew they had to leave. But before they did, they loaded up all the gold they could carry. As they tried to escape, the Aztecs attacked them. Many Spanish soldiers tried to swim to the mainland, but they drowned because the weight of the gold pulled them down. It was called 'The Night of Sorrows' because more than half of the Spanish army died that night."

"Wow! Why didn't they get rid of the gold when they realized it was weighing them down?" asked Cara.

Harrison shrugged. "I don't know. I guess they were greedy and wanted to keep it."

"It sounds like they had a lot in common with us today," said Dad, who had been listening. "Many of us try to get as much earthly treasure as we possibly can--even when it means other people get hurt. We seem to think money and the power that comes with it is more important than anything else, but we're never satisfied."

"And there are lots of things money can't buy," said Cara. "The sermon in church last week was about that. Peace, joy, contentment, and especially the forgiveness of sins and living with God forever--we can only have those things by trusting in Jesus."

Dad nodded. "Jesus is the only treasure that brings eternal life--and He gives it to us for free."

–Jean A. Burns

How About You?
How important is money to you? Do you think it can buy you anything you want? If you think that, you're wrong. Some people spend their whole lives trying to get more and more money thinking it will make them happy, but the only way to have true joy and satisfaction is through Jesus Christ. Accept His free gift of eternal life today! (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:
What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (NLT) (Mark 8:36)

Today's Key Thought:
Money can't satisfy

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Elin was trying to concentrate on her math lesson when her mother appeared in the doorway of her room. "How's the homework coming?" Mom asked.

Elin shrugged. "We're having a test tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't pass it. I can't seem to study." She let out a big sigh. "Since Dad went to rehab, my mind is always somewhere else."

Mom came in and put her arm around Elin. "I understand, honey. I miss him too."

Elin slammed her book shut. "Mom, why didn't God answer our prayers? Didn't we pray enough? Is it our fault Dad kept getting worse and had to go to rehab?"

"No, El, it's not our fault at all. We did all we could to help him," Mom assured her. "I don't know why God allowed things to happen the way they did, but I know He loves your dad and can heal him and help him change. At least now he's on the right track to getting better. Let's continue to pray for Dad and for each other--God answers prayer, but in His own time and in His own way."

Elin's eyes filled with tears. "But what about us now? Doesn't God care about us?"

"Oh, Elin, the same God who loved us so much that He gave His Son to die for us loves us just as much now as ever. I know it's hard, but just like we trusted Jesus to save us from our sin, we can trust Him to take care of us now. He can give us peace--He's the only one who can do that. Do you remember the verse you learned in church last week?"

Elin nodded. "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."

"It looks like you have two tests to pass right now," Mom said as she smoothed Elin's hair back from her face. "One is your math test, and the other is remembering God's promise to care for you, even when things are hard. With God's help, I'm confident you can manage both."

"Okay," said Elin. "I'll try to remember how much God cares for me." She smiled and opened her math book. "I think I can study now."

–Marie Shropshire

How About You?
Do you know how much God cares for you? Maybe you're facing a tough situation and wonder if God cares about what you're going through. He does. Jesus loves you just as much now as He did when He died for your sins. Even when you don't understand why He allows difficult things to happen, know that He is with you, and depend on Him to take care of you.

Today's Key Verse:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7 )

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God to care for you

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:9-13

Aria flipped open a small manual that had come with their new toaster and started reading. "Some of these warnings are funny!" she said to Mom. "Listen. 'Do not put under water. Do not touch hot surfaces. Do not put fingers in slots.' Anybody with any sense at all would know not to do those things. Why do they write them in the instructions?"

"They do seem pretty silly, but you might be surprised how many people would do some of those things," replied Mom. "Then if the toaster breaks or they get hurt, they might blame the manufacturer if those warnings weren't in the manual. Sometimes people even go to court and sue for a lot of money."

"Even though it's their own fault?" asked Aria's brother Aidan.

Mom nodded. "It's human nature to blame somebody else. Both Adam and Eve did it in the Garden of Eden, and people have been doing it ever since. Who do you think gets blamed more than anyone else?"

"I do!" declared Aidan.

"You do not," said Aria.

"I'd say it's God," said Mom. "He often gets blamed for bad things that happen, even though it was Adam and Eve's disobedience that brought sin into the world and made a mess of everything. Yet God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us from sin, and He gives us detailed instructions on how we should live, but people often ignore them. Then when something goes wrong because of something they did, they blame God even though they're the ones who didn't follow His instructions."

"Like when Aidan fell out of his window and broke his leg trying to sneak out of the house when he was grounded last year," said Aria.

"Hey!" said Aidan. "I didn't blame anyone for my fall--I admitted it was my fault and accepted responsibility." Aidan grinned at his sister. "And now I'm a model son." Aria and Mom both laughed.

Mom picked up the toaster manual. "I'll put this away for now, but God's instructions to us shouldn't be left in a drawer. Let's all read something from our Bibles each day so we can remember what God has done for us and how He wants us to live. Instead of playing the blame game, we can confess our wrongs to Him and He will forgive us."

–Heather Tekavec

How About You?
Do you accept responsibility for what you do? Or do you look for someone to blame when something goes wrong? Life is never free from pain or problems. Sometimes our difficulties come from living in a sinful, broken world, but other times they're caused by our own wrongful actions. When you mess up, don't play the blame game. Accept responsibility for your actions, remembering that God loves you and is always willing to forgive.

Today's Key Verse:
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (NLT) (Proverbs 28:13)

Today's Key Thought:
Accept responsibility