Bible Reading: Acts 4:13-20

Topher brought Mexican jumping beans to school today," said Tiernan at dinner one evening. "They look like regular beans, but they move all by themselves. Topher wouldn't say what made them move--he said it was a secret. But I looked it up and found out. I don't know why Topher didn't just tell us. It's no secret!"

"So what makes them move?" asked Tiernan's sister Ariel.

"Moths," said Tiernan. "Mexican jumping beans are three-celled bean pods that house moths. The jumping is caused by the moth larvae moving inside."

"Ew, gross!" Ariel put down her knife and fork. "Well, now I've lost my appetite."

When dinner was finished, Dad got out his Bible for family devotions. "Tiernan's story about the jumping beans made me think of something," he said. "Like Tiernan said, the reason they move isn't a secret, but there is something we often keep secret even though we shouldn't. Just like how the moths in the bean pods makes them jump, we have something in us that makes us choose to do the things we do, but we often don't tell anyone what it is."

"Well, what is it?" asked Tiernan. "I don't know either."

Dad smiled. "It's the love of Jesus in our hearts. For example, I remember when you ate lunch with the new boy at school who didn't know anyone and your friends later asked why you didn't sit with them. What reason did you give them?"

"Um, well…I just told them I knew him from math class," replied Tiernan.

"And when I was so sick, God gave me a miraculous recovery," said Dad. "But I wonder how many of us told our friends that God had answered our prayers?"

"I didn't," admitted Ariel.

"It's almost as though we're keeping it a secret that we know Jesus," Dad said, opening his Bible to the fourth chapter of Acts. "Tonight, let's read about some men who didn't keep it a secret that they knew Jesus. How about reading it for us, Tiernan? Read verses sixteen to twenty."

After Tiernan finished reading, Dad said, "Peter and John couldn't keep themselves from telling others about Jesus and how He died and rose again to save them. Let's join them by telling everyone what He's done for us too."

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?
Do you tell others about Jesus? Don't keep it a secret that you know Him. Tell other kids when you're thankful for something God has given you or done for you. Speak up if there's an opportunity to let others know that Jesus loves us all so much He died for us. They may want to know Him too. What are some other things you could tell them about?

Today's Key Verse:
We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (NKJV) (Acts 4:20)

Today's Key Thought:
Don't keep Jesus a secret

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:44-46

Roman stomped into the house and headed for the stairs, not even bothering to say hello to his family. "Hey there, Roman!" Dad called from his place at the counter. Roman mumbled something and then proceeded upstairs and slammed his bedroom door. The house shook.

Eva, his sister, entered the house a moment later. Mom finished chopping a potato and gave her a hug. "What's wrong with Roman?" Mom asked.

Eva opened the fridge and dug out an apple. "Well, this kid named Carson Peters keeps bullying and teasing him," she replied. "Especially on the walk home from school."

Later that evening, Roman was asked to help make his mom's famous homemade applesauce. As he chopped apples, he remembered some of the things Carson had said to him on the way home from school. Infuriated, Roman slammed the knife into the apple. The apple squished and splattered all over him and the counter.

"Oh dear. I suppose that was a rotten apple. I should be more careful when I pick out the bags at the market," Mom said, wiping the gunk off Roman and the surrounding area. "Why did you slam the knife so hard?" she asked. "You could've hurt yourself."

"Well, I--I was just thinking about what this guy Carson said to me earlier. He says a lot of mean things."

"I think how you're dealing with this is a bit like that rotten apple," Mom said as she mashed up the good apples. "You've been holding all this inside. Allowing angry, bitter feelings like that to stay in your heart can make you rot inside. Eventually, they would've overflowed--or in your case, exploded."

Roman sprinkled some cinnamon into the apple mixture. "I guess I thought I could deal with it on my own."

"Sometimes the only way to deal with something--or someone--is to ask for help," said Mom. "Jesus loves you so much that He died to save you, and He wants you to go to Him with your problems and hard feelings. He also puts people in your life to help you--like your dad and me. Let us help with the situation, and trust God to help you release those feelings and replace them with His love and peace."

–Taylor Carey

How About You?
Has someone ever been mean to you? Sometimes it's easier to bottle up hard feelings instead of dealing with them. But God wants us to cast our hardships onto Him, and He gives us people to support us. Don't be afraid to ask for help with bullies or other difficult situations and tell a trusted adult how you're feeling. Trust Jesus to comfort you and give you the power to love those who hurt you the way He loves us.

Today's Key Verse:
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7)

Today's Key Thought:
Share your hurts with others

Bible Reading: Romans 3:10-26

"Peyton! Avery!" Dad called up the stairs. "Dinner is ready! Please pick up your toys and then come eat."

Peyton quickly put her dolls in a basket, then put the basket high on the shelf and ran downstairs. Avery, who was five years younger, couldn't quite reach the shelf to put her dolls away or lift the heavy lid to the toy chest. She eventually gave up and went to eat.

The next morning at breakfast, Avery began singing "Jesus Loves Me." Usually Peyton loved listening to Avery sing and would clap along, but today she just quietly listened.

"What's on your mind, kiddo?" Dad asked.

Peyton frowned. "Well, I know that Jesus died on the cross to take away sins, but I guess I don't really understand how that shows He loves me."

Dad thought for a moment. "Yesterday I asked you and Avery to clean the playroom, remember?"

Peyton shrugged. "Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Well," Dad replied, "Avery can't put her toys away herself, so I want you to pick them up for her."

"But that's not fair!" said Peyton. "She's the one who made the mess!"

"You're right, she is the one who made the mess, but no matter how hard she tries, it's impossible for her to clean it up. She needs help." Dad paused. "Jesus shows us His love in the same way."

Peyton furrowed her eyebrows. "By picking up our mess?"

Dad nodded. "We're the ones with a huge mess of sin in our lives. Do you think it's fair for Jesus to clean it up? Jesus didn't sin. He didn't make our mess, but He also knew we could never get rid of it ourselves. So, because He loves us, He died and rose again to do what we couldn't--to take our sins away."

"So you're saying I can show Avery I love her by picking up her toys because she can't do it herself--just like Jesus shows me He loves me by taking away my sin because I can't do it myself?"

Dad smiled. "You got it."

As Avery continued to sing, Peyton smiled and began to clap along.

–Bethany Den Boer

How About You?
Have you ever made a mess you couldn't clean up? The Bible says our lives are like that--we've gotten ourselves into a mess of sin, and it's impossible for us to get out of it ourselves. But Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross to take away our sin. You can only get out of sin's mess by trusting in Him. (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:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV) (Romans 5:8)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus takes away our sin

Bible Reading: Romans 12:18-21

James was quiet as the plane rolled down the runway. "Nervous?" asked Dad.

"No," said James. "Well, not about the flight. I was thinking about something you said. Are you sure everyone has luggage they carry in their lives? Even bullies?"

Dad nodded. "Bullies often have the heaviest life luggage of all. It's filled with rocks of hurt, sadness, and anger they can't seem to get rid of."

"But then why is Dylan--I mean, bullies--so mean?"

"Remember in the airport when you wanted someone to carry your luggage for you?" asked Dad. "Well, we can get so tired of dragging our life luggage around by ourselves that we try to push our rocks onto others."

"I try to be nice to Dylan, but when I do, he just gets meaner! Yesterday I asked if he wanted some help, and he called me a--well, it wasn't very nice."

"Some people haven't been shown how to be kind," said Dad. "Dylan is probably afraid of looking weak. He probably feels stronger when he acts mean."

James looked down. "Dad, sometimes when Dylan is mean, I just want to get back at him by making him feel bad too."

Dad nodded. "I know a lot of adults who hurt others back instead of learning how to love them better. Two bullies won't change anything." Dad squeezed James's shoulder. "I'll call the school when we get back and tell them what's happening with Dylan. In the meantime, you can give your anger and hurt to--"

"I know!" James interrupted. "My luggage carrier!" Dad nodded and gave James a high five. "You know, Dad," said James, "Dylan probably doesn't know that Jesus wants to be his luggage carrier too."

"You might be right," Dad said as the plane took off. "He needs someone to tell him--and to pray for him too. He also needs to see God's love in action--someone who will continue to show him kindness, even though he's mean in return. Maybe someday, with prayer and persistence, that will change."

Just then, something in the compartment above their heads shifted with a loud THUD! A woman in the row behind them gasped. "What was that?"

James tried to swallow his laugh. "Probably the rock from our backyard!"

–Kelly Carlson

How About You?
Do you ever want to hurt someone who is hurting you? It's natural to want revenge, but that's not what Jesus wants you to do. If you're being bullied or hurt by someone, it's important to tell a trusted adult who can help with the situation. But don't let your hurt and anger take over--give your burden to Jesus, and trust Him to help you respond to that person with His love.

Today's Key Verse:
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (NIV) (Matthew 5:44)

Today's Key Thought:
Love those who hurt you

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7

"It's too heavy!" James dragged his bag through the airport. "Dad, I need a luggage carrier!"

Dad chuckled. "What did you pack? Rocks?"

"Just one."

Dad stopped walking. "Seriously?"

"I didn't want to forget our backyard!"

"Well, come on." Dad pointed ahead. "It's just a bit farther to our gate."

After James plopped down hard into a chair, he noticed the many people passing by. One gray-haired woman dragged a suitcase half her size. I wonder what's in there, thought James. She must have a lot she doesn't want to forget. Next came a small girl twirling a tiny tote bag. Crayons and candy, James guessed. Not too heavy.

"You know," Dad said as he watched the people go by, "everybody has luggage."

Just then, James spotted a man holding only a phone. "Not him."

"Sure he does. Let's say your life is a suitcase, James. Every friend, conversation, sports game, or test is like an item in your luggage. We carry the good and bad things with us--but sometimes the bad things become heavy, and it's hard for us to carry those things around."

"So what happens when life gets too heavy?" asked James with a glance toward his bag.

"That's the best part of all," said Dad. "Jesus will carry all your burdens so you can rest--like that man carrying nothing but his cell phone."

Just then an announcement came over the loudspeaker. "Group four, please begin boarding."

"That's us!" James leapt up and reached for his bag, but his arm was still too sore to lift it. "Hey, Dad, can you help me?"

"Of course." Dad grabbed James's bag, and they boarded the plane.

After they were seated and their bags were stowed away, James turned to Dad. "So how does Jesus carry my burdens?"

"Well," said Dad, "He took the biggest burden from us--the punishment for our sin--when He died on the cross. And He wants us to give our worries and regrets to Him in prayer and trust Him to help us with our problems and forgive our wrongs. Instead of trying to handle life's heavy burdens on our own, He wants to give us peace and rest."

"I get it now," James said. "Jesus is my luggage carrier!"

–Kelly Carlson

How About You?
Is there something heavy in your life? Sometimes there's just too much hurt or trouble to carry alone. When life gets heavy, remember that Jesus took the burden of your sin and wants you to come to Him so He can give you rest. Ask Him to carry your load and to direct you to an adult who can help.

Today's Key Verse:
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you. (NKJV) (Psalm 55:22)

Today's Key Thought:
Jesus carries your burdens