Bible Reading: Psalm 91

Natia and Lexi sat in the grass waiting for the bus. Lexi was quiet this morning; she had something

on her mind.

"What are you thinking about?" Natia asked.

Lexi looked up. "I was just thinking about a conversation I had with my mom yesterday. She

talked to me about something called a safety network. She seemed pretty serious about it."

Natia looked confused. "What's a safety network?"

"It's a list of five people that I trust, like my mom, my dad, our teacher Mrs. Schenk, my aunt, and my grandma. Those are the people I can talk to about anything. Mom says that if anyone ever says or does anything to me that makes me feel uncomfortable, I can always go talk to the people in my safety network."

"That's a good idea!" said Natia. "It's good to have a plan in case anything scary ever happens."

Lexi nodded her agreement. "Do you remember last summer when our moms took us to the circus? That man walking the tightrope had a safety net underneath him. That way, even if something scary happened, he knew he'd be safe. Mom said a safety network is kind of like that." Lexi picked some grass and rubbed it between her fingers. "Talking to my mom about it also made me thankful for God's safety net."

"What do you mean?" asked Natia.

"Well, when my mom and I were talking, we read a chapter in the Bible about how God is our protector and that we can always trust Him. Jesus died to save us from the scariest thing of all--eternity without God--and He promises to be with us when scary things happen. Mom said one of the ways He helps us is through people we can trust, like those in our safety network." Lexi reached into her backpack and pulled out her little Bible. "Here, I put a bookmark in it--it's in Psalms."

They both stood up when they heard the bus rumbling closer. Lexi turned and waved to her mom, who had been watching them from the porch.

"You're right, Lexi," Natia said after she read the passage in Lexi's Bible on the way to school. "It makes me feel good knowing God has given me a safety net!"

- Emily Tenter

How About You?
Do you have a safety network--a list of people you can talk to about anything? Having a safety network is very important. If you don't have one, talk to your mom, dad, or other adult you trust about who should be in it. And remember that God is first on your list! If you know Jesus, He promises to be with you all the time. Go to Him when things in your life get scary and trust Him to help you.

Today's Key Verse:
He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. (NIV) (Psalm 91:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Have a safety network

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5

"Hey, watch it!" Kole poked his twin brother with the end of his broom. "You're stepping in my dirt pile!"

"Whoops," said Zeke. "Sorry." He took a few steps back and began sweeping the opposite side of the garage. "I can't believe I'm sweeping dust bunnies on a beautiful Saturday afternoon instead of playing baseball," he said with a groan.

"Yeah," said Kole, wiping sweat from his forehead. "And I'm missing Jackson's party." He sighed. "I hate being grounded."

"Me too," said Zeke. "Switching places to take each other's tests was a dumb idea."

As Kole wheeled the garbage can to the end of the driveway, Mrs. Dawson, the mom of one of the boys in Zeke's class, walked by. "Hi, Zeke!" she called out.

"Um, hi--I'm Kole, actually."

"Oh, right--sorry!" said Mrs. Dawson. "Sometimes I forget Zeke has a twin."

Kole sighed as he walked into the kitchen where Zeke and Mom were pouring lemonade. "What's the matter?" asked Mom.

Kole shrugged. "Nothing. Someone outside just thought I was Zeke."

"Hey, congratulations!" said Zeke, raising his glass of lemonade.

"Ha ha," said Kole sarcastically. He looked at Mom. "It just gets irritating sometimes--people thinking I'm someone else."

Mom nodded. "Yes, Dad and I knew that would happen to you boys. That's why we put you in different classes at school--so you could develop your own identities and friendships apart from each other." She took a sip of lemonade. "Of course, we never thought you'd switch places to get out of taking tests in classes you didn't like."

The boys looked at the floor. "Yeah--sorry about that," said Zeke.

"Well," said Mom, "you didn't fool me. Your faces may look the same to everyone else, but I can see the subtle differences in your noses and chins and freckles. More than that, you have completely different personalities!" She smiled. "I see each of you for who you are. And you know what? God does too. He created you so you could know and reflect Jesus in your own special way. He made each of you unique, with your own interests and abilities."

"Yeah," said Kole. "Like me being good at English and Zeke at math."

"Exactly," said Mom. She ruffled Kole's hair. "But that doesn't mean you can have Zeke take your math tests."

- Courtney Lasater

How About You?
Did you know God made you just the way you are? You were created to be you and no one else! He gave you your unique personality and your abilities and gifts. Thank Him for making you who you are, and trust Him to help you reflect the love of Jesus and point people to Him in a way nobody else can.

Today's Key Verse:
will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (NKJV) (Psalm 139:14)

Today's Key Thought:
God made you who you are

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24; Hebrews 4:13-16

"Okay, remember the plan," Zeke told his twin brother Kole as they traded sweatshirts in the bathroom. "Try not to talk to anyone before the test. Once the tests are finished it'll be lunchtime and we can meet back here to trade our sweatshirts back."

Kole nodded as he combed his fingers through his hair to get it to look more like Zeke's. They were in different classes at school, and Kole was going to take the English test in Zeke's class while Zeke took the math test in his. "I sure hope no one notices I'm not you," said Kole. "If I had to take that math test, I'd flunk it!"

"Yeah, and I hate English," said Zeke. "All that writing!"

Kole walked into his brother's classroom just as the bell rang. Mr. Edwards handed out the test, and Kole got to work.

Everything went smoothly until someone knocked on the door. Mr. Edwards cracked it open and, after a few whispers, turned toward the class. "Zeke, your mom is here with your lunch. You can go with her and put it in your locker."

Kole broke out in a cold sweat. He trudged over to the door, and the moment Mom saw him, it was obvious she knew he wasn't Zeke.

Kole stepped into the hall and shut the door behind him. Mom was furious.

"What's going on?" she hissed. "Why are you pretending to be Zeke?"

Kole couldn't look her in the eye. "We switched places so I could take his English test and he could take my math test."

Mom stared at him. "Well, you may have fooled your teachers and classmates, but you didn't fool me--I know you too well. And aren't you forgetting someone who knows you even better than I do?"

"Umm…" stammered Kole. "You mean God, don't you?"

Mom nodded. "The Bible says He knows the number of hairs on your head--and everything that's in your heart. You can't hide anything from Him."

Kole shuffled his feet. "I guess Zeke and I didn't think of that."

"I guess not," said Mom. "But I hope you'll remember it from now on. Jesus knows everything about you, and He loves you and promises to forgive your wrongs. We can always be honest with Him--and trust Him to help us be honest with others too."

- Courtney Lasater

How About You?
Have you ever thought you could get away with something without anyone knowing? Even if you managed to hide it from other people, you can't hide anything from God--He sees everything you do and knows everything in your heart and mind. Don't try to hide anything from Him. Instead, tell Jesus what you've done and ask Him to forgive you. He knows you and loves you, and He promises 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:
You can't hide anything from God

Bible Reading: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Dad put on his apron. "Well, my little chefs, are you ready to make our delicious pizza?"

Piper and Jerrie smiled. "Yes!"

"Okay, Piper, while Jerrie is rolling the dough, you start preparing the toppings."

"Okay, Dad. Hmm, let's see what we have here. Cheese, no. Sausage, no. Meatballs, no. Um, pepperoni will work."

Jerrie grinned at her sister. "Piper, you can't just pick pepperoni for our pizza. We need other ingredients too, like mushrooms."

Piper made a face. "No way! We're not having gross vegetables on our pizza."

"Mushrooms are not gross vegetables!" said Jerrie.

Dad stopped stirring his secret tomato sauce. "You know, having just one topping on our pizza reminds me of what Paul said in the Bible."

"Where does Paul talk about food in the Bible?" asked Piper.

"Actually, in multiple places, but this one isn't about food. In First Corinthians, Paul asks the believers, 'If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?'"

Jerrie stopped rolling the dough. "That's a silly question. The body needs all its parts for it to smell, hear, and see. If my body was just an ear, all I'd be able to do is hear."

Dad smiled. "Even though it may seem like a silly question, Paul was trying to make a point. He was saying that everyone is important in the body of Christ, no matter what God has called you to do--whether you're a pastor, a postman, or two amazing pizza chefs."

Piper opened the fridge. "I thought just teachers and pastors were important in the body of Christ."

Dad shook his head. "Nope! Jesus has made everyone who knows Him part of His body, the church, and has given each of us a special role in it. As we work together and love one another, others can see Jesus in us."

Piper took some mushrooms out of the fridge. "So, I guess we shouldn't let our pizza turn in to one big eyeball of pepperoni."

A while later Mummy came into the kitchen. "Mmm, something smells good."

Piper smiled "It's our pizza. It has lots of toppings."

Jerrie nodded as she took a slice. "Like the body of Christ."

Piper held out her plate. "Daddy, can I have a slice with mushrooms?"

- Charis-Zoe Ademosu

How About You?
Do you know that you're important in the body of Christ? It's true. It doesn't matter how young you are or what God has called you to do--you are important to Him. He says all of us are valuable and precious to Him--so precious that Jesus gave His life to save us--and we all have a special role in pointing others to His love. If you know Jesus, you are an important part of His body of believers.

Today's Key Verse:
You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (NIV) (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Today's Key Thought:
You are important in Christ's body

Bible Reading: Luke 6:47-49

"Better hurry up and build a wall around your castle,Tess! The tide is coming in," said Beckham. "One big wave and it'll be washed away."

"Will you help me? Please?" begged Tess, handing her brother a pail and shovel. Water washed around her feet and then went back toward the ocean, just missing the castle.

"I told you to build it farther from the water," said Beckham as he added a pailful of damp sand to the wall. "We won't be able to save it. Those waves are coming up fast!"

Beckham was right. There was no time to protect the castle. Waves washed up on shore, and a big chunk from the front side of the castle washed back into the sea. A shovel Tess had dropped beside the castle was carried along with it. "My shovel!" exclaimed Tess. She chased after it into the water.

Beckham shook his head. "That castle is history." Tess frowned as she stood looking at her destroyed masterpiece. "Your castle looked awesome, but you built it in a place where it couldn't stand up against the rising water," said Beckham. He grinned. "Just like the foolish man!"

"Huh?" said Tess. "What foolish man?"

"You know," said Beckham. "The one in the story Jesus told about the two men who built houses. The wise man built his house on rock, but the foolish man built his on sand and it got washed away. Then Jesus said to be like the wise man and build your life on the rock."

Mom smiled as she listened. "And how do you do that?" she asked.

"By admitting that you're a sinner and trusting Jesus to save you," said Beckham. "When you do that, He becomes the one you build your life on."

Mom nodded. "Right. The Bible refers to Jesus as the Rock. When you build your life on Him, you're building on a firm, stable foundation, just like the wise man in the story. Building your life on anything else--like money or fun or what other people think of you--is like building a castle in the sand. It all gets washed away."

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Are you building your life on the Rock or on sand? Is your life centered on having lots of money or fun or friends? Or are you standing firm in the love of Jesus, no matter what life brings you? The world says having a good life means getting everything you want, but the Bible says the only way to truly have life is through Jesus. Are you building your life on Him? If not, trust in Him 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:
No one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have--Jesus Christ. (NLT) (1 Corinthians 3:11)

Today's Key Thought:
Build your life on Jesus