Bible Reading: Mark 4:13-20

"Mom! Dad!" called Jayden as he raced into the house. "Come quick! I think a watermelon is growing in the backyard!"

"Really?" asked Dad. "That ground out back is so poor and rocky. I wouldn't think a watermelon could grow there."

"But there is one!" insisted Jayden. "Come and see."

"We'll look later," said Dad. "Right now we have to get to the homeless shelter or we'll be late for chapel." Jayden's family had agreed to lead the shelter's evening chapel service once a month.

"Oh, all right," said Jayden. He went to his room and got his trumpet and sheet music for the songs he would be playing at the shelter.

On the way home a couple of hours later, they discussed the service. "I don't think anyone was paying attention today," said Jayden. "I think it was a waste of time for us to go there."

"Sharing the gospel is never a waste of time," said Mom. "Someone who doesn't seem interested may actually be ready to trust Jesus as their Savior."

As soon as they got home, Jayden persuaded his parents to go look at the watermelon plant. Sure enough, there was a vine with one very small watermelon on it. "This must have grown from some seeds we threw out here last year," said Jayden.

"I think you're right," said Mom. "I've thought about planting a garden back here, but I didn't think this soil was good for growing anything. I guess I was wrong. It looks like one of those seeds fell on ground that was just right for watermelons. If it keeps growing, we'll get some fruit we didn't expect."

"We scattered another kind of seed today--the seed of God's Word," said Dad. "Like you said, Jayden, no one at the homeless shelter seemed to pay much attention, but we don't know the condition of the hearts of those people. It's possible that the seed we planted there will bring unexpected fruit too."

"You mean some of those people might still trust in Jesus because of what they heard today?" asked Jayden.

Dad nodded. "Jesus loves those people and died for them, just like He loves and died for us. Let's pray that God will make the seeds we scattered today grow in their hearts and produce fruit."

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Do you feel like it's useless to share the gospel--especially with people who don't seem interested? The parable of the sower in Mark 4 tells us that the seed of God's Word falls on many different kinds of soil in people's hearts. You can't see what kind of heart-soil anyone has, but keep sharing the good news about Jesus--you never know whose heart is ready to trust in Him.

Today's Key Verse:
Other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit. (CSB) (Mark 4:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Keep spreading God's Word

Bible Reading: Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

"What are you going to do with that?" Chloe asked when she saw her sister grab five dollars from her dresser before church.

"We're taking an offering today for the missions project," Taryn told her. "Did you forget?"

"Guess so," replied Chloe. But I'm not giving five whole dollars! she thought. So after her sister left the room, Chloe opened the drawer where she kept her money and took out some change. This will do, she thought as she dropped it into her pocket.

When they got home from church, Mom looked over at the flowers along the back porch. They were bursting with blooms. "Look at my pansies," she said. "Aren't they pretty?"

"Yeah!" said Taryn. "How can there be so many flowers already? You only picked off the dead ones a couple of days ago. And you picked some for little bouquets too, didn't you?"

"Yes, but pansies need to be picked often for them to blossom more fully," said Mom. "The more you pick, the more you get."

"That doesn't really make sense," said Chloe.

"Seems hard to believe, but it's true," said Mom. "It's true for other things too--like giving to the Lord. When we give to Him out of a generous, thankful heart, we receive more blessings in our lives."

"You mean God will send us more money if we give lots of money to Him?" Chloe asked.

"Well, I can't promise you that, although that could be one way He decides to bless us," said Mom. "But the extra blessings God gives us often come in a form other than money. For example, I think the greatest blessing is a sense of joy and peace that comes from giving generously to the Lord. When we give to Him with thankful hearts for all He's done for us, He reminds us of the blessings we already have in Jesus, who gave His life for us so we could have eternal life with Him. He also promises to provide for our needs so we can share His love with others by giving generously."

Chloe thought about Taryn, who was so generous and happy. Then she thought about how discontent she often felt, and she made a decision. I'm going to be like the pansies, she thought. I'm going to give more generously out of thankfulness for everything God has given me.

–Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
Do you give generously to the Lord? Do you give with a thankful heart, remembering all the blessings He's given you? Whatever you give to God, He'll give you more than you give Him. It may not be money, but it will be whatever blessing you need most. Give to God generously and He'll use your gift to bless both you and others.

Today's Key Verse:
Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands--more than you can hold. (ERV) (Luke 6:38 )

Today's Key Thought:
Be a generous giver

Bible Reading: John 3:16-17

It was a perfect day out on the lake--the air was hot and the water was cool. Gracie enjoyed the breeze as her dad motored their boat across the water.

"Okay, Teddy, you sit here and watch while I swim," Gracie told her teddy bear when the boat had stopped. She sat Teddy down near the boat's dashboard and then jumped into the water. Shadow, their dog, loved the water too, and he jumped in right behind her.

After an afternoon of swimming and tubing, Gracie and her parents tucked everything on the boat into place and then took off across the lake toward the dock.

"Oh no!" cried Gracie when she realized she'd forgotten her teddy bear.

Teddy went flying out of the boat. Dad slowed to a stop, and Shadow jumped in the water and retrieved the stuffed bear.

"Oh, thank you, Shadow," Gracie said as she gave the dog a hug.

"Wow, that was a close call," Mom said as Gracie squeezed as much water as she could out of her soaking-wet bear. "You'd better hold on to Teddy when Dad takes off again."

"I will!" Gracie said as she held Teddy close. Shadow plopped down beside Gracie for the rest of the boat ride.

When they arrived home, Mom put Teddy in the washing machine. "Good as new!" she announced as she handed Teddy to Gracie once he was clean.

During devotions that night, Dad read Galatians 1:4--"Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live." He closed his Bible. "Shadow jumping in and rescuing Teddy today got me thinking about this verse," Dad said. "Just like Shadow rescued Teddy because he couldn't rescue himself, Jesus rescues us from our sins because we can't rescue ourselves either. By dying for our sins on the cross, Jesus made a way for us to have eternal life and live with Him forever. When we trust in Him, He saves us."

Gracie sat thinking, holding Teddy close. "I want Jesus to save me," she said.

That night Gracie gave her life to Jesus.

–Lisa Fuller

How About You?
Have you trusted Jesus to save you from sin? Sin is all around us in this world we live in, and it's also in our hearts. Sin is the reason we do wrong things, and we can't save ourselves from it. But God loves us so much that He made a rescue plan for us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins so we could be saved and spend eternity with Him. If you trust Him as your Savior today, He will rescue you. (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:
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (NLT) (John 3:16)

Today's Key Thought:
Trust Jesus to save you

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 10:22-25

"Wow," said Jace as he stared at his cousin Cody's backyard. "Two tree forts--with a rope bridge between them!" He shook his head. "You've got everything!"

Cody shrugged.

Jace climbed up the ladder. "Do you come here all the time?" He coughed and batted the air. "Ugh. I guess not. I just ran into a cobweb."

Cody scrambled up the ladder, twisted the cobweb onto a stick, and threw it out the window. "I haven't been up here in months."

Jace couldn't believe it. "If I had this, I'd be up here all the time!"

Cody shrugged again. "It's always been here. The people before us built it."

Jace stepped out onto the rope bridge. "I wish we could stay longer. I wanted to stay until tomorrow, but Dad wants to drive home tonight so we can go to church in the morning."

"What did your pastor talk about last Sunday?" asked Cody.

Jace shrugged. "I don't know. I was finishing my cartoon drawing."

"Your cartoon?" Cody sighed. "You're the one who doesn't know how good you have it!"

"Huh?" Jace was confused. "What do you mean?"

"I can only go to church when the neighbors take me. But now Dad says I can't go anymore because he's tired of hearing me talk about Jesus. I guess he had a bad experience at church as a kid." Cody ran his hand over the rope bridge railing. "I know this is a nice tree fort. But I'm so used to it, I don't care much about it. I don't think you know how nice it is to hear about Jesus because you've always heard about Him. I wish I could go to church every week."

Jace drew a big breath. "I never thought about it like that. My family has always gone to church, so I can learn about Jesus and be reminded of how much He loves me all the time." He was quiet a moment, then snapped his fingers. "I know! How about I listen to the sermon in church each week then send you a message on what it was about?"

"Really?" said Cody. "That would be great!"

"Yeah," said Jace. "And I have an extra Bible I'll give you so you can learn about Jesus during the week too."

–Laura Raborn

How About You?
Do your parents take you to church? Do you pay attention and learn all you can about God? Growing up with the opportunity to learn about Jesus and worship Him with others is a gift--something many people don't have. If God has put people in your life who want you to know about Jesus and how much He loves you--so much that He died on the cross to save you--thank Him for it and learn all you can!

Today's Key Verse:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3:18)

Today's Key Thought:
Appreciate learning about Jesus

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:2-5

As Amayah lay across the bed, sobbing, a tattered pink blanket was shoved up close to her. "Sissy, you can have my blanket." A tiny hand patted Amayah's head, and she turned and looked into the troubled eyes of her little sister, Peyton. "My blanket will make you feel all better," Peyton said.

Amayah felt the bed sag as her mom sat down beside her. "Missing Linden?" Mom asked softly.

Amayah nodded. "She was my best friend. I think about her all the time," she said, wiping her eyes. "Will I ever stop hurting? It's been three months since she died."

Mom handed her a tissue. "It's always hard to lose someone we love, especially someone as young as Linden."

Amayah took the tissue and blew her nose. Then she handed the blanket to Peyton. "You can have your blanket now, Peyton. Thanks."

With a contented sigh, Peyton hugged her blanket, and Mom pulled the little girl onto her lap. "That's your comforter, isn't it, honey?"

"No," said Peyton, looking puzzled. "It's my blanket."

Amayah smiled and lifted the edge of the comforter that was spread across her bed. "See this, Peyton? This is called a comforter."

Mom nodded thoughtfully. "You know, Amayah, since we trust in Jesus, God has given us His Holy Spirit to live within us and be our Comforter. He wants to comfort you."

Amayah sat up. "I know, Mom. When I prayed this morning, God seemed to tell me to remember the good times I had with Linden. I did, and I thought of the time when we both decided to give our lives to Jesus at camp. I remembered that she's with Him now and that I'll see her again one day, and I felt better for a while. I was still sad, but God did comfort me."

Peyton smiled at her sister, then jumped down and left the room, still clinging to her blanket. "Someday, Peyton won't need her security blanket anymore," Mom said. "But no matter how old we are, we'll always need our Comforter, God's Holy Spirit. He reminds us of God's promises and care, and He's always with us."

Amayah nodded and got up. "I'm doing better now," she said. "God is comforting me."

–Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?
Do you feel sad because someone you love has died? Or has a special friend--or maybe even a parent--moved away? Have you lost a pet? Are you worried about something? In this world, many things can happen to cause sadness in your heart. But if you know Jesus as your Savior, you have God's Holy Spirit. Let Him comfort you and remind you of the hope you have in Jesus.

Today's Key Verse:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. (NKJV) (2 Corinthians 1:3)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives comfort