Bible Reading: Galatians 5:22-26

"Just do it," coaxed Henry. "She'll never know it was you." Henry was trying to get his classmate Niam to put a whoopee cushion on their teacher's chair. "Come on, it will be hilarious!"

"Okay," said Niam. But when Mrs. Mills sat down and her face turned red, it didn't seem so funny after all.

Later that day, Henry talked some classmates into putting petroleum jelly on all the door knobs in the classroom. But when Mrs. Mills couldn't open the door for recess, she frowned and announced they would be staying inside.

At the end of the day, Henry was instructed to go to the principal's office instead of the bus line. When he arrived, both of his parents were there. They didn't look happy.

No one spoke on the drive home. When they pulled into the driveway, Dad turned off the engine and told Henry to go get a can of white paint. Henry didn't know what Dad was up to, but he did as he was told.

"Let's open this up and see how much we have," said Dad. They pried off the rusty lid and peered inside. It looked okay. "We have to stir it," said Dad. "It's been sitting a while."

As Henry stirred vigorously, chunks of old, rubbery paint and rust began dotting the surface. The harder he stirred, the worse it got. "All this stirring is making it worse!" Henry exclaimed.

"When you stir old paint, it loosens all the impurities in the can," Dad explained. "Kind of like how you've been stirring things up at school."

Henry stopped stirring the paint and sighed. "I was just trying to have some fun."

"Yes, but at the expense of others. When you ask your classmates to do things that embarrass or hurt others, you're encouraging them to sin. The Bible tells us to stir up love and good works, but you can't do that by only thinking of yourself--just like you can't stir up good paint from this old can. You need to depend on Jesus to help you stir up love and encourage others to do good things instead."

"I guess you're right." Henry took the stirring stick out of the can. "I'll be more careful about what I stir up."

–Laura Kuehn

How About You?
Do you like to stir things up? There's nothing wrong with having fun, but it can't be at the cost of upsetting a friend or teacher or getting other people in trouble. If you're someone who can talk others into doing things, use that gift for good! Encourage those around you to honor God and others through love and good deeds.

Today's Key Verse:
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. (NKJV) (Hebrews 10:24)

Today's Key Thought:
Encourage others to do good

Bible Reading: Psalms 3:1-6; 42:8; 63:6

Lara ran so hard it hurt. She glanced over her shoulder. The lion was still chasing her and getting closer. Suddenly, she tripped and fell flat on her face! A huge roar echoed, and she could almost feel the lion's hot breath on her neck. She screamed--then woke up in her own bed. All the covers were kicked off, and her forehead was sweaty.

Lara lay still, trying to calm her beating heart and go back to sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lion chasing her. Finally, she got out of bed and tiptoed to her mom's room. "Mom," she whispered, "I had another nightmare, and I'm afraid to go to sleep." Mom got up, and together they went back to Lara's room.

"I know the dream wasn't real, Mom, but it was so scary!" Lara said after Mom tucked her back in bed. "How can I get it out of my mind?"

Mom switched on the lamp and got Lara's Bible out of a drawer. "God's Word can help with your nightmares," she said as she turned the pages. "The book of Psalms is a good place to find verses of comfort when we feel afraid. Let's read Psalm 118:6. Here, read it out loud for me."

Taking the Bible, Lara read, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" She gave her mother a little smile. "The last part could say, 'What can mere nightmares do to me?' Is it okay to read it like that?"

Mom nodded. "That will remind you that your nightmares can't hurt you, and that Jesus is always there to comfort you."

Lara put a bookmark between the pages to save the place. "I'll read this whenever I have a nightmare. Then I won't have to get up and find you."

"Great idea," said Mom, returning the Bible to the drawer. "It's short, and you could even memorize it. That way you can repeat it to yourself whenever something scares you." She smiled. "But you can still come and get me if you feel afraid."

After Mom kissed her goodnight, Lara snuggled down deep into the covers and whispered, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid."

–Faith Alessio

How About You?
Do you have nightmares or find it hard to go to sleep? Remember that if you know Jesus as your Savior, He is with you all the time. Like King David in today's Bible reading, you can meditate--or think--about God when you're awake at night. If you think about the presence and power of God, your fears will look much smaller. You can have peace knowing He is with you.

Today's Key Verse:
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NIV) (Psalm 4:8)

Today's Key Thought:
God is with you

Bible Reading: Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 5:1-5

"Sofia, chore time! Today we're going to--what's wrong?" Aunt Lori set down the buckets she was holding and gently put her hands on Sofia's shoulders. "Aren't you having a nice time on the farm?"

Sofia tried to smile. "I just wish Mom and Dad were here with me." Her throat felt tight. She buried her face in her aunt's denim shirt, trying to control her tears.

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry." Aunt Lori hugged her niece tight, remembering when her own parents separated many years before.

"Why did God let this happen to me if He's supposed to be good? I don't see anything good in my parents getting a divorce!" Sofia said fiercely.

Aunt Lori was silent as she brushed Sofia's hair. After a moment, she said, "Let's go empty the compost."

As they emptied the buckets into the compost bin, Sofia grimaced at the smell of the decomposing fruits and vegetables. "Gross," she muttered. Then they walked to the garden to do some weeding.

"The plants are gorgeous," Sofia observed. "How do you keep them so healthy?"

"I put compost on them. But those haven't been getting much," Aunt Lori said, nodding to some rows of sadder-looking plants. "Let's put some compost on them now."

As they worked, Aunt Lori said, "You know, Sofi, I think we're like these plants, and the difficulties we face are like compost."

"How?" Sofia asked, puzzled.

"Well, God can use the hard things in our lives to help us trust Him more and grow in our faith. He promises to use everything for good. Jesus's death on the cross was horrible, yet that's how God did the greatest good of all and saved us from our sins. And He can bring good from bad things that happen. God hates divorce--it's not good. My parents' divorce was awful, but it helped me see God as my perfect, loving Father. By His grace, I'm not a withered, dying plant because I know He is always with me, giving me strength." Aunt Lori smiled.

Sofia had never thought about life that way. She did want to be vibrant and strong like the healthy-looking plants. She would think hard about what Aunt Lori had said.

–Rachel Avallone

How About You?
Have you gone through uncomfortable or painful things in your life? It's natural to become upset and ask God, "Why is this happening to me?" Even though bad things happen, we know God is good. He promises to be with us through the hard things, and He is always at work in our lives. When difficult things happen, trust that God will use them for good.

Today's Key Verse:
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV) (Romans 8:28)

Today's Key Thought:
God uses everything for our good

Bible Reading: Psalms 27:7-10; 116:1-9

When Maggie stepped into the batter's box, she already had two strikes. One more would put her on the bench. She glanced at the stands. Her foster mom wasn't there. Maggie sighed. Her team chanted, "Two-strike hitter, don't be a quitter!" The pitch came in fast, and Maggie connected, sending the softball past the outfield.

Softball took her mind off everything. When she got back home, her social worker was out front holding a bag with all Maggie's belongings. Oh no, I forgot! I'm moving today. She forced her feet to keep walking. Ever since Dad died, it was one foster home after another.

After several months in her new house, Maggie saw a Bible lying open on her foster mom's desk. The words "I love the Lord because He hears my voice" jumped out at Maggie. "He doesn't hear my voice," she said out loud.

Alice, Maggie's foster mom, came in and asked, "Who doesn't hear you, honey?"

"Jesus doesn't. When Mom left, Dad told me to pray. When Dad got sick, I prayed. Now they're both gone."

Alice put a soft hand on Maggie's shoulder. "You play softball--I did too. Do you ever cheer, 'Two-strike hitter…'"

"'Don't be a quitter!'" Maggie answered. "I'm a quitter at asking God for anything."

Alice tapped the Bible. "Look at this psalm--Psalm 116. This man had pain and death all around him. He said he was brought low, but God heard him. Think--when your mom left, who was still with you?"

"Dad." Maggie paused. "And Jesus. And when Dad was sick, he told me that because Jesus died for me, I could trust Him even in hard times."

Alice nodded. "Psalm 27 says that even if your mother and father are gone, the Lord will care for you. The Lord is taking care of you, Maggie. He sent you here, and we love you. We prayed for you before you came--and we're praying for your mom too. We don't know what she'll do. But we know what Jesus will do."

"He'll hear my voice?"

"Yes, He always hears you. Praying gives you a deeper friendship with God. When it comes to prayer, be that two-strike hitter, Maggie."

Maggie grinned. "I won't be a quitter."

–Laura Roesler

How About You?
Do you ever feel like you're striking out with God when you pray? Don't give up. Even when it seems like God isn't listening, He hears your prayers. He cares about your tears and your worries. He wants to hear what you have to say. Even if other people leave you, Jesus never will. He died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever. Keep praying--He's listening.

Today's Key Verse:
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT) (Psalm 116:2)

Today's Key Thought:
The Lord hears you

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:7-12

"Why does she get to ride when I have to walk?" Caden whined. "It's not fair!"

"Your sister is only two; her legs aren't as long or as strong as yours," Mom replied, parking the stroller in front of the two-toed sloth exhibit.

Caden continued to pout. "Emma gets all the attention too! You treat her better than you treat me. You must love her more!"

"Caden, that's not true!" Mom sounded hurt. "You know I love you and your brothers and sister with all my heart."

"Then why don't you treat us the same?"

Mom pointed to the exhibit. "Do you see the zookeeper feeding the sloth?" Caden nodded. "What's she feeding it?" asked Mom.

"Looks like fruit."

Mom nodded. "What did the zookeeper at the penguin exhibit fed the penguins?"

"Fish, right?"

"That's right. What would happen if this zookeeper tried to feed fish to the sloth?"

"Mom, sloths don't eat fish. They live in trees!" Caden laughed.

"Right again." Mom smiled. "Different animals eat different foods and live in different habitats because they have different needs. Good zookeepers treat all the animals differently because they care for all of them."

Caden glanced at his little sister, who had fallen asleep. "Emma and I aren't different kinds of animals."

"No," Mom replied, "but you are different people, and sometimes you have different needs. Emma needs help with things like holding her cup and turning a doorknob, but sometimes you need help with things like math homework and piano practice."

Mom, Caden, and his brothers watched in fascination as the sloth munched languidly on an apple slice. "I think God is kind of like a zookeeper," Mom said. "He knows exactly what each of His children needs. We may not always get what we ask for when we pray, but He always provides for our needs. He provided for our greatest need of all by sending Jesus to save us from sin, and we can trust Him to provide for each of our specific needs too."

"Hey! Give that back!" Caden's brother snatched the cap off his head and ran off with it, causing Emma to start crying.

"Sometimes I feel like a zookeeper too," Mom mused as the family moved on to the next exhibit.

–Suzanne Felton

How About You?
Do you think it's unfair when you're treated differently than your brothers, sisters, or classmates? Adults who care about you know that different people often have different needs, and it's because they love you that they treat you differently. God knows us and loves us more than anyone else. Even when He answers His children's prayers differently, He always gives us what we need.

Today's Key Verse:
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NIV) (Philippians 4:19)

Today's Key Thought:
God gives us what we need