Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10-13

Kelly fought hard to hold in the tears all day at school. When her mom picked her up afterward, they started leaking down her face.

Mom touched her arm. "What's wrong, honey?"

"Everything," Kelly said.

"You'll adjust to your new school eventually," Mom said, leaning over to give her a hug. "It was just the first day."

The worst first day ever, Kelly thought. She turned toward the window as she relived the past several hours, the tears continuing to flow. First, she'd nearly missed her first class because she couldn't find the room. Then she'd spilled the contents of her backpack and had to pick up her things while everyone watched and laughed at her. Then there was lunch--

"You can talk to me." Mom's gentle voice broke her train of thoughts. "What happened?"

"Lunch was a mess," Kelly said. "I couldn't even find a table to sit at, so I just ended up eating in the corner by myself."

Mom frowned. "I'm sorry, Kelly."

Kelly sighed. "What if I never fit in?"

"You will." Mom squeezed her hand. "Did you pray and feel God with you today?"

Kelly shook her head slowly, realizing she hadn't.

"God is always with you," Mom said. "Even when it feels like you're all alone, Jesus is there with you, offering you His peace and comfort. He understands what it's like not to fit in, and He'll help you through the hard days at your new school. He helped me through some hard days at my new job."

"He did?" Kelly turned to her.

Mom nodded. "I was struggling to find my place there. It's always hard when you don't know anyone yet. Plus, I couldn't even figure out the coffee maker!"

"Really?" Kelly knew how much her mom loved coffee.

"I prayed about everything, and today a nice older woman helped me figure out the coffee. I think I made a friend too." Mom smiled. "God will be with you and help you, honey. Don't give up on your new school yet."

"I won't." Kelly took in a breath and wiped away her tears. "I'll pray about it and try again tomorrow."

–Bethany Acker

How About You?
Have you ever gone to a new school or struggled to make new friends? Did you ask God to be with you and help you through that difficult time? Jesus gave His life for you, and He cares about what you're going through and promises to be with you. Trust Him to help you through all the difficult things you face and give you His comfort and peace.

Today's Key Verse:
I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (NIV) (Isaiah 41:13)

Today's Key Thought:
God is with you

Bible Reading: Psalm 103:8-12; Ephesians 4:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:15-16

"The art competition is tomorrow, so make sure you finish your pots today," Miss Boone told the class. "Your final step is sealant, but don't forget--"

"What do you think of my pot, Miss Boone?" Alex raised his pot above his head.

"You've done a fantastic job, Alex, but you interrupted me while I was speaking. Now, as I was saying, you must wait for the paint to dry completely or the sealant will ruin your design. Please be patient."

"You'll probably win a ribbon, Alex," said Miguel, Alex's best friend.

Alex reached for the sealant. "I'll be the first one done too! Watch!"

"Alex, wait!" Miguel pointed to the paint. "It's still wet. Remember what Miss Boone said? Be patient or you'll ruin the design on your pot."

"I've waited long enough." Alex painted on sealant super-fast and put his project on the counter. "I win!" he shouted.

Before the competition, Alex stood outside the library where the artwork was displayed. "Is it time?" he asked when he saw Miss Boone coming to unlock the door. "Can I go in? I want to go in first!"

Once the doors were opened, Alex hurried in without noticing anyone else's artwork. "Where's mine?" he asked.

"Look up there, Alex." Miss Boone pointed to the table displaying pots with ribbons draped over them. Alex sprinted over.

"I don't see it! Where's my pot, Miss Boone?" Miss Boone pointed again, and Alex shook his head. "That's not mine." Then he looked more closely and gasped. "The sealant! It ruined my design!"

Miguel walked over and laughed when he saw Alex's pot. "You need to be more patient, Alex. That sealant made your pot look weird!"

Alex sighed. His parents and Sunday school teacher were always telling him to be patient too, because Jesus was patient and always thought of others instead of only thinking of Himself. I'm sorry, Lord, he prayed silently. Please help me slow down and think of others. You're always patient with me, and I know you can help me be patient too.

Miguel nudged him, "Hey, look--you got a ribbon for 'Most Unique!'"

Before the awards ceremony, Miss Boone asked each ribbon winner if they had a title for their artwork.

"I do, Miss Boone," said Alex. "I'm calling mine 'Patience.'"

–Kelly Carlson

How About You?
Do you patiently follow directions or do things your own way? Do you charge ahead without thinking of anyone else? It's not easy to be patient, especially when you're excited for something or know exactly what you want, but the Bible tells us to be patient. When you slow down and think things through, you'll be more loving and considerate toward the people around you--just like Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (NIV) (James 1:19)

Today's Key Thought:
Be patient

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 1:9-12; 3:23-24

Ian frowned as he crumpled up another piece of paper and threw it in the recycling bin. "I'm supposed to write about a couple of jobs I might like to do when I grow up," he said. "I thought about being a professional baseball player--or maybe a photographer like Dad. But the chances of me playing pro baseball aren't very good, and I don't really want to be a photographer--no offense to Dad or anything."

"Well, I know Dad doesn't expect you to do what he does," Mom assured him. "God has given you talents of your own to use for Him."

"Maybe I should want to be a pastor or a missionary," said Ian. "God would probably want me to do something like that, wouldn't He?"

Motioning for Ian to follow, Mom got up and walked to the kitchen window. She pointed to a tree in the backyard. "What kind of fruit does that tree out there produce?" she asked.

Ian looked at his mother suspiciously. "Apples, of course. It's an apple tree, Mom."

Mom nodded. "Yes, and apple trees produce apples, not some other kind of fruit--and they don't struggle to do it. They automatically produce apples because that's what God made them to do. That applies to you too."

"Yeah? But I'm not an apple tree," said Ian with a grin.

Mom smiled. "No, you're not, so God doesn't expect you to produce apples--and He doesn't expect you to act like somebody you're not either. Whatever you end up doing for a career--working as a lawyer, farmer, missionary, businessman, factory worker, pastor, or whatever--you can share the love of God with others through what you do. He wants Christians serving Him in every field of work. The Holy Spirit is already doing His own work in your life so that you will produce spiritual fruit that points people to Jesus in everything you do, both now and when you grow up."

"Well, that makes me feel better," said Ian. "But I still don't know what to write for my paper."

"Think about things you like to do and things you do well," suggested Mom. "Those are pretty good clues to help you begin to understand what God may lead you to do for Him someday."

–Miriam K. Nowak

How About You?
What are you good at? What do you like to do? Your interests may change over time, but keep praying about these things, and keep working at the things you enjoy doing. Be willing to let God use you and the abilities He's given you in any way He sees fit. Trust Him to help you share His love and point people to Jesus in whatever you do, both now and in the future.

Today's Key Verse:
Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Today's Key Thought:
Use your talents for God

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11

"It's raining! It's pouring!" sang six-year-old Callie as she ran into Amber's room. "I love rain," she said. "It makes puddles to play in."

"Yeah, and it cancels picnics," Amber snapped,

"Are you going on a picnic?" asked Callie.

"I'm not going anywhere," grumbled Amber. "I told you. My picnic was canceled." She sighed. "And that's not all! I was supposed to go to an amusement park tomorrow with Morgan and her family, but Morgan's sick, so those plans got canceled too!"

"Well, if it storms, maybe the lights will go out, and we can use candles," said Callie. "That's always fun!"

"I hate storms!" Amber shook her head. "You're a strange kid. You love storms and rain and snow and cold weather--and hot weather too."

Mom laughed as she came into the room. "To Callie, there's no such thing as bad weather--only different kinds of weather."

"Do you know all the seasons, Amber?" asked Callie. She counted on her fingers. "There's spring and fall and winter and--"

"Summer," Amber cut in. "I know them too, Callie."

Callie threw her arms open wide. "And I love them all!"

"I'm glad you do," said Mom. "There are different seasons of the year, and there are different seasons in life too. There's childhood and adolescence. Then, before we know it, we're adults, and then maybe parents and even grandparents."

"Yeah, well, the teen years are the worst!" Amber exclaimed.

"Every season has its blessings as well as its problems, Amber," Mom said. "It's true that there are stormy times in teen years, but people of every age experience both storms and sunshine."

"Is it going to storm hard?" asked Callie. "I'll get the candles out." Amber gave a half-smile as Callie ran from the room.

"Even storms have a purpose," continued Mom. "For example, lightning puts nitrogen into the atmosphere to help plants grow. And life's storms can help us grow in our faith in Jesus. He loves us, died for us, and is always with us, and He'll help us through any kind of weather we face in life. That's something we can be thankful for every day, no matter what season of life we're in."

–Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?
Are you going through some stormy times in your life? Make a list of things that are happening to you. Have any of them helped you experience Jesus's love and care in a new way? Is there anything you think God might be trying to teach you in what you're going through right now? No matter what season you're in, thank Him for each day and remember that He's always with you, in good weather and bad.

Today's Key Verse:
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV) (Psalm 118:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God in every season of life

Bible Reading: Psalm 95:1-2; John 19:28-30; Ephesians 2:8-9

"I'm going to Mr. Harvey's shop to pick up the bookcase I made for Dad," Wesley told his little brother. "Want to come along? We'll take the wagon, and you can help pull it."

Zion clapped his hands. "Yay! You'll tell Dad the present is from me too, won't you? Because I'm helping?" Wesley smiled and agreed.

At Mr. Harvey's shop, Wesley showed Zion the bookcase. Then he walked to a back corner of the shop where Mr. Harvey was working. "Thanks for showing me how to make the bookcase for my dad," said Wesley. "Here's the money I owe for the supplies I used."

Mr. Harvey took the money, and they both turned toward the bookcase. Wesley gasped. Zion was standing next to it with a raised hammer. "What are you doing, Zion?" yelled Wesley.

"I'm helping make Dad's bookcase," Zion replied. He gave it a whack just before Wesley was able to grab the hammer from his hand. "You said I could help, Wesley!"

"I know, Zion," said Wesley. "But you can't help make it, because it's already totally finished!" He was relieved to see that Zion had made only a very small dent on the back of the bookcase and it wouldn't show. "You can help me pull it home, and you can help give it to Dad, okay?"

Mr. Harvey smiled. "Wesley, while you were working on the bookcase, we talked several times about how we can get to heaven. Do you remember what you told me?"

"Sure. Like I said, I try hard to be good," said Wesley. "I obey my parents. I go to church. I'm pretty sure I'll make it to heaven."

"But, Wesley," said Mr. Harvey, "just like Zion tried to help with your finished gift of a bookcase, you're trying to help God with His finished gift of salvation and eternal life. When Jesus died on the cross, He said, 'It is finished.' All of our sinful mistakes--past, present, and future--were paid for by Jesus's sacrifice for us. There's nothing you can do to help. You just need to trust that He's already done everything for you and accept His forgiveness. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Wesley slowly ran his fingers over the top of the bookcase. "Yeah," he said. "I think I do."

–Mary Rose Pearson

How About You?
Do you think you need to do good things to get to heaven? That's not possible. There's nothing you can do to earn your salvation. Jesus has totally finished all the necessary work for you to be forgiven for your wrongs and receive eternal life. You must simply accept what He has done--there's no work left for you to do! Trust in Jesus 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:
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (NLT) (Ephesians 2:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus alone saves from sin