Bible Reading: Psalms 17:6-7; 18:1-2; Matthew 19:14

Twelve-year-old Scarlett was so excited about helping her mom in the twos' and threes' Sunday school class. Eagerly standing by the classroom door, Scarlett watched for the little ones to come.

Most of the children came in with smiles on their faces. However, not all of them had such an easy time. Missing her mom, little Maaza cried and cried long after her mother had gone into church, staying stiff as a log in Scarlett's arms. After a while, Scarlett gently put the little girl down and offered her a toy. Now only sniffling, Maaza angrily turned away and refused to play for most of Sunday school.

A little later, Myles, a toddler Scarlett often played with, arrived. He cried and cried, but instead of going stiff in Scarlett's arms, he wrapped his arms around her neck as she rocked him back and forth. After a few minutes, he was ready to play with his favorite toy truck, and soon after that he began to play with the other children.

"So, are you enjoying working in children's church?" Scarlett's mom asked her later that afternoon.

"Yes, I like it a lot," Scarlett said. "The kids are so cute! I love playing with them and telling them about Jesus during Bible time."

Mom smiled. "You know, as much as God uses us to teach children about Him, I'm amazed at how much they teach me about my relationship with God. Often I'm like how Maaza was today. When I'm sad, afraid, or confused, I turn away from God, much like how she hurried away from you. I forget that God shows His love for us by comforting us in our distress. Jesus saved us from our sins so that He could be with us every moment of every day. The Bible uses words like 'shelter' and 'stronghold' and 'refuge' to say that God cares for us and promises to be a safe place for us."

"That means we should be more like Myles, shouldn't we?" asked Scarlett.

Mom nodded. "He knew he could trust us as his teachers, and he clung to you and cried when he was scared about coming to Sunday school. Then he was able to enjoy all we had planned for him. If we trust God and come to Him when we're sad or afraid, we can experience the peace He promises."

–Aurora Scriver

How About You?
Do you ever have trouble trusting God when you feel sad or upset? Do you run away from Him when things get difficult or scary? Remember that God is faithful and promises to be with you through every difficulty you face. He wants to comfort you so you can experience His peace, rest, and joy. Go to Him when you feel sad or afraid, and He will be your safe place.

Today's Key Verse:
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. (NLT) (Psalm 36:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Let God comfort you

Bible Reading: Matthew 20:30-34; James 5:13-18

"God bless everyone. Amen." Grace ended the brief prayer in her usual way. When she opened her eyes, she saw a slight frown on her mother's face. "What do you mean when you say 'God bless everyone'? Exactly who is everyone?" asked Mom.

"Well," said Grace, "I mean Grandma, Micah, my friends, the missionaries, the homeless--everyone."

"What do you want God to do for them?" asked Mom.

"Bless them," answered Grace. "You know--Grandma needs help with her eyes, and Micah's having trouble sleeping. Those kinds of things." She glanced at the clock. "I'd better hurry or I'll miss my bus!"

After school, Grace and Mom went shopping. When a clerk asked if they needed help, Mom nodded. "My daughter needs…" She paused. "Some clothes."

"Jeans?" asked the clerk. "Tops? Or a coat?"

Mom shrugged. "Just something to wear."

Grace stared at her mom. "I need jeans and a couple of tops too," Grace told the clerk. Soon she was busy trying things on in the fitting room.

"That was so embarrassing, Mom!" Grace said after they left the store. "Why didn't you tell the clerk what I needed? She must think we're weird!"

"It was just easier not to go into detail," Mom answered. Grace gave her mom a puzzled look, and Mom smiled at her. "When the clerk spoke to us, your quick 'God bless everyone' prayer came to my mind. I thought maybe my answer would show you that it's important to communicate clearly--both to people and to God."

"But God already knows what I'm thinking," Grace contended.

"That's true," Mom said. "But He wants you to talk to Him and express your thoughts and feelings. Jesus gave His life for us so we could be in a close, loving relationship with Him. He wants to hear about your worries and troubles so that He can give you peace and let you know He cares. Besides, when you make specific requests, it helps you pay attention to how God answers. Then you can thank Him for specific things."

Grace nodded her head thoughtfully. "I'm glad God cares about me and everyone else and listens to us when we pray. Maybe tonight I'll write some specific prayers down and keep track of how God responds!"

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
When you pray, are you specific about your needs and requests? Or do you hurry through and not bother with details? Even though God knows what you need before you ask, He cares about you and wants you to talk with Him. Take time to communicate with God and share your specific concerns with Him. When He answers your prayers, you'll be encouraged and have even more reasons to praise and thank Him!

Today's Key Verse:
Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (NLT) (Philippians 4:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Pray with specific requests

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:97-104; John 8:12; 1 John 1:5

Lucas and Grandpa were camping together in the mountains. One day, after they had hiked to the top of a lookout point, they sat down to enjoy a late afternoon snack. "How are your friends at school?" Grandpa asked. "Your Dad said you and Bryer had a fight."

"Yeah." Lucas sighed. "I'm not sure what to do about it."

Grandpa was about to respond when he noticed the sun getting low in the sky. "We need to start heading back before it gets dark. The path up here is rocky, and it will be much easier to get back to the campsite in the light."

Sure enough, the sun soon dipped behind the mountains. Then, as the moon began rising, Lucas pointed at it and exclaimed, "Look, Grandpa, it's a full moon tonight!"

As Lucas and Grandpa continued down the path, the moon suddenly disappeared behind a cloud. Almost immediately, Lucas tripped over a small rock.

Grandpa helped him up and made sure he was all right. "We'd better wait here for a bit until the moon is out again. This path is too hard to walk without any light." Grandpa thought for a moment. "You know, this path is a lot like life. Although our mountain path is full of rocks, the light from the moon keeps us from tripping. And life is also full of hard choices and temptations that may make us stumble or fall, but we have a light to guide us. Jesus is the light on our path."

"How do we know where Jesus is leading us?" asked Lucas.

"He guides us through His Word, the Bible," Grandpa replied. "The truth and wisdom of the Word of God light our way. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself is called the Word. His sacrifice for us is a demonstration of God's love, and through the Holy Spirit, He helps us live out His love, truth, and wisdom in our lives. Just as we need the moon to light our way back to camp, we need Jesus to guide us in the way He wants us to live."

Just then, the moon came out again, illuminating their campsite in its glow. Lucas turned to Grandpa. "When we get back to the tent, can I see what Jesus says about friendship in your Bible?"

Grandpa smiled and nodded. "Let's go!"

–Bethany Den Boer

How About You?
Have you ever felt unsure what to do about a hard situation, like a trying friendship? Did you know that Jesus is the Word that guides us? If you feel stuck or confused in a situation, look to Jesus's life and the rest of the Bible. As you learn more about God's love and the truth and wisdom of His Word, trust the Holy Spirit to help you walk the same path of hope, love, and peace as Jesus in your own life.

Today's Key Verse:
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NKJV) (Psalm 119:105)

Today's Key Thought:
Walk in the light of God's Word

Bible Reading: John 15:1-5; Galatians 5:22-23

"Cora, Gran just called," Mom said. "She said the muscadines are ready to be picked."

"Yay! When can we go over and help?" Cora loved helping her grandparents pick their muscadine grapes each summer.

"I told Gran we'd be over early tomorrow morning before it gets too hot."

Mom and Cora got up early the next morning and headed over to Gran and Gramps' house. Gran met them in the driveway, and they took the tractor and trailer down to the vineyard. "Gramps is already busy picking," Gran said. "I think we're going to have a good crop this year. The vines are loaded."

When Gran stopped the tractor, Cora grabbed a bucket and got busy. As she was picking near Gran, she noticed that one of the branches looked dead and didn't have any muscadines on it. "What happened to this branch, Gran?"

"See where it's broken loose from the vine?" said Gran. "Without the vine, it can't live or produce fruit."

By the time they stopped for lunch, Cora had picked five buckets full of muscadines.

"I pulled that dead branch out that Cora found today," Gramps said while they were all enjoying sandwiches and lemonade. "It made me think of a Bible verse."

"What verse is that?" Cora asked.

Gramps took a Bible off the counter and opened it to John 15:5. "Cora, will you read it for us?"

Cora took the Bible and began reading. "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." Cora looked up. "What does that actually mean?"

"Well," said Gramps, "just like the muscadine branches need the vine to live and produce fruit, we need Jesus, our vine, to grow and produce spiritual fruit. We can't grow as Christians or show others God's love on our own--we need to be connected to Jesus in faith so His Spirit can work in us and produce fruit through us."

"Wow, that's pretty cool!" said Cora. "I think I get it now. Since I trust in Jesus, He's my vine and I'm His branch."

"I think you've got it," Gran said. "Now, let's go pick some more muscadines."

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Are you connected to the vine--Jesus? To be connected to Jesus, you must have a relationship with Him by trusting Him as your Savior. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) Once you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit will work in your heart so that you can produce spiritual fruit. As you grow and learn to depend on Jesus, He will make you fruitful in sharing His love with others.

Today's Key Verse:
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (NLT) (John 15:4)

Today's Key Thought:
Be connected to Jesus

Bible Reading: Hebrews 11:1-6

Little Iris climbed out of the pool and eagerly walked along the edge to where her father was standing waist-deep in the water. "Catch me again, Daddy!" she called.

Iris leaped toward her father almost before he could get his arms up to catch her. "Wheeee!" he exclaimed as he pulled her around in the water and then took her to the shallow end where she could touch bottom. Soon Iris was back up the steps and heading toward her jumping spot again.

"Iris sure does trust Dad to catch her," said her older sister, Olivia. "And I can't believe how many times he keeps doing it. You'd think he'd get tired of it, but he actually seems to enjoy it!"

Mom smiled. "You know what I think? I think this is a good picture of our faith in God. Your dad is happy that Iris trusts him enough to jump into his arms again and again. And because he caught her the first few times, she learned to trust him more and more. She jumped almost before he was ready the last time."

Olivia was confused. "How is that like us and God?"

"Well, first of all, we need to trust Jesus to forgive our sins and save us," replied Mom. "Then, as God works in our hearts, we also learn to trust Him for many other things in life--sometimes for specific things, like providing for our needs or help finding friends at a new school."

Olivia nodded. When they had moved the year before, those were things she'd often prayed about.

"After we trust God for something and find that He's faithful in keeping His promises, it's easier to trust Him the next time we have a problem," continued Mom. She smiled as Iris squealed and leaped toward her father's arms once again. "The more we exercise our faith, the more it grows. When Iris jumps into the pool, she doesn't think, 'Maybe Daddy will catch me.' She knows he will. Dad is pleased that Iris trusts him, and when we trust God like that, knowing that He loves us and will always take care of us, He is pleased too."

–Lyndel F. Walker

How About You?
Do you trust God? Do you trust Him in times of trouble as well as when things are going great? Even when things are hard and you don't know how they'll work out, you can trust God to take care of you and do what's best in any situation. He loves you so much that Jesus died for your sins to save you. You can trust Him to take care of any problem you have.

Today's Key Verse:
Without faith it is impossible to please God. (NIV) (Hebrews 11:6)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust God at all times