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

Bible Reading: Psalm 13; Matthew 27:45-46

"Leila, don't touch that," Grandma said softly.

Dylan watched as his grandma caught his baby sister's hand before she could reach the pan of cookies that had just come out of the oven. "Why?" Leila asked.

"Because you might get burned," Grandma said.

"Why?" Leila asked again.

Grandma smiled. "Because the pan is hot."

"Why?"

Dylan rolled his eyes. "This is what she does, Grandma. She goes on and on like that all day long."

"You did too, at her age." Grandma scooped Leila up and carried her to the living room.

Dylan noticed Grandma's phone on the counter and checked the screen. Still no update from Dad. He joined his grandma and sister in the living room, not wanting to be alone. "Grandma, why does God let Mom get sick over and over again?" he asked. "Dad just took her to the emergency room last week, and now they're there again."

Grandma squeezed his shoulder. "I know it's hard, Dylan. I'm worried too."

"But why is it happening, Grandma? And why can't they just figure out what's going on so we don't have to be scared?"

His grandma smiled. "You're starting to sound like Leila."

Dylan swallowed. "Sometimes I just don't know why God acts the way He does."

"It's okay to question God and wonder why He's working the way that He is," Grandma said. "In the Psalms, we read of others who did that. They knew that even though they might not get the exact answers they wanted, God would listen to their questions. Even Jesus, right before He died on the cross, asked God, 'Why?' He understands what it's like to go through hard things and not have all the answers."

"So God's not mad when I ask all of the why questions?"

"Not at all," Grandma said. "He's patient with you, like we try to be patient with your sister."

"I just want Mom to be healthy again," Dylan said. "More than wanting to know why, I want her to get better."

"I know," Grandma said. "We all want that. Remember that God cares about her more than anyone--He sent His own Son to die for her. Whatever happens, we can trust Him to listen and be with us."

–Emily Acker

How About You?
Do you ever wonder why God lets bad things happen? Have you tried asking Him why? Or are you worried He might get upset if you ask Him difficult questions? He loves you deeply, even when you struggle to believe He is good. He understands your feelings and welcomes your questions. Trust that He listens to you and cares for you.

Today's Key Verse:
I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT) (Psalm 116:1-2)

Today's Key Thought:
God listens to our difficult questions

Bible Reading: Matthew 4:4; John 6:35; Hebrews 10:15-16

"Okay, kids. Let's go," called Dad after Kiara's swim meet had ended. "We only have a half hour before Keagan's soccer game."

"Looks like we'll have to grab fast food again," Mom said as she closed her car door. She sighed. "It's not a very healthy choice."

"We learned about food groups in school," said Kiara. "Our bodies need something from every group so we get the right balance of vitamins and nutrients and have the energy we need to grow and be healthy."

"Well, I'm fine with the food groups of burgers and fries," said Keagan. "And ice cream too!"

Mom laughed. "I know you like those things, but we need to either figure out a way to eat healthier despite our busy schedule or make the schedule less busy."

"We just may have to do that," said Dad. "You know, a schedule that's too busy can also interfere with our spiritual diet. We often get a healthy dose of time with God on Sundays but settle for spiritual fast food the rest of the week--like a quick prayer before meals and only a nibble of a verse here and there."

"Those small prayers and short verses are still good, but often we need more," Mom explained. "Jesus died and rose again so that we could have a relationship with Him--when life is easy and when life is busy. He wants to spend time with you because He loves you."

Keagan furrowed his eyebrows. "But how can I do that during my soccer game?"

"I know!" Kiara exclaimed, bouncing in the seat of the car. "The Holy Spirit!"

"Exactly!" Dad said. "God gave all who believe in Jesus His Spirit to be with us all the time--even on the soccer field or in the swimming pool. The Holy Spirit reminds us of God's truth in the Bible and nourishes our faith--even when we're busy."

"But we still need time to rest and reflect too," said Mom. "That's why going to church, praying, and reading the Bible are important."

"Sounds like a healthy choice!" said Kiara.

"Yeah," said Keagan as Dad parked at a fast food place. "But I'm glad we're having dinner here!"

Mom smiled. "This will do for tonight, but it might be time to make some changes so we can have healthier bodies and healthier souls!"

–Lore Wolif

How About You?
What kind of spiritual food do you get? Do you only get a good meal once a week at church? Is prayer just something you squeeze into your day? Just like you need healthy food for your body, your spiritual diet is also important. So don't neglect spending time with Jesus, reading and listening to His Word at church and on your own. And when life gets busy, remember that His Spirit is always with you, reminding you of His truth and love.

Today's Key Verse:
The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. (CSB) (John 14:26)

Today's Key Thought:
Have a healthy spiritual diet