Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Epizodai

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  A Delightful Aroma 24.07.2026 4min

  Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 A delicious aroma drifted through the door as Audrey walked into the house. She inhaled deeply, wondering for a minute what it was. I know—apple pie! Maybe Mom will let me have a piece before supper. Her stomach growled as she went into the kitchen. No Mom. No apple pies either. Audrey found her mother in the living room. “I was just reading an email from your teacher,” Mom said, grinning. “I think you’ll be pleased to hear what she has to say.” Mom turned to her computer and read the email out loud. “It’s such a delight to have Audrey as one of my students. She often gives up her free time to help her classmates and has befriended the new girl from Indonesia. She is like a breath of fresh air in our class. By the way, she invited me to visit your church sometime, and I’d like to do that.” The email was from Mrs. Hollis, Audrey’s teacher at school. Mom beamed and gave Audrey a big hug. “I’m so proud of you, honey!” Audrey looked pleased. “Hey, where’s the apple pie?” she asked. “I know you made one—I can smell it. Can I have a piece?” Mom furrowed her brows. “Apple pie? I didn’t make any…oh, it’s the candle.” She pointed to the candle burning on the mantle. “It’s an apple pie spice candle.” “Oh.” Audrey was disappointed. “It made me hungry for apple pie.” Mom smiled. “You know what? I think your life is like that candle. It made you hungry for apple pie because it smells so good, and I believe your actions and attitude at school have made your teacher hungry for what you have—I think that’s why she wants to come to church.” “I made her hungry for church?” Audrey asked, confused. “Not church, exactly—Jesus,” said Mom. “Your teacher doesn’t realize she’s really hungry for a relationship with Jesus, but she sees something in your life that appeals to her. I think that seeing you display Jesus’s love in the way you treat others is making her want the real thing—Him.” Mom grabbed her keys. “Come on. That candle is making me hungry for apple pie too, so let’s run to the store and pick one up!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do your actions and attitude make people want to be around you? Does seeing how you treat others make them want to know more about Jesus? As you show others love, kindness, patience, and helpfulness, they get a taste of who Jesus is and what knowing Him is like. As people interact with you, they may become hungry for what you have—hungry to know Jesus. Today’s key verse: We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Make others hungry for Jesus
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  Bikes and Boasting 23.07.2026 4min

  Read: Psalm 34:1-3; Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Hey, Joel!” shouted Micah from the other side of the parking lot at school. “What’s up?” Joel asked as the two of them began to walk toward the school building together. “I was wondering if you’d like to come to my house after school,” Micah said. “I got a new bike for my birthday, so maybe you could bring yours.” “Sure, I’ll come over,” said Joel. “My dad bought me a girl’s bike, and we had to paint over the flowers! We worked really hard on it.” After school they went to Joel’s house and got his bike. Then they went to Micah’s house. “I present to you, the fastest bike the world has ever known!” Micah said with a flourish. He looked at Joel’s bike and giggled. “Umm…I can still see the flowers you painted over,” he said. “My bike is new, and I bet it’s faster than yours.” Joel looked down at the ground as he put his helmet on, looking hurt. Just then Micah’s mom came out of the house. “Micah,” she said, “I’d like to speak with you for a minute. Please come inside.” “Wait a minute, Joel!” Micah said as he quickly ran inside. He sat down on the couch beside his mom. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “How do you think you were treating Joel out there?” Mom asked. Micah didn’t answer. “You were boasting about your bike, weren’t you?” “I’m sorry, Mom,” Micah answered. “I’ll tell Joel I’m sorry too, but…I thought you said we could boast about…” Micah’s voice trailed off. Mom laughed. “You mean we can boast about God. That’s much different than what you were doing. God tells us not to boast about ourselves because everything we have comes from Him, and putting down Joel’s bike and bragging about your own hurt him. But boasting about God and the wonderful things He’s done for us helps us share His love with others. What are some things God has done that we can boast about?” “Well,” said Micah, “we can boast about God because He is so good and faithful, and because He sent His Son to die for us.” “Very good,” said Mom. “How about you go apologize to Joel and compliment his bike?” “Sure,” said Micah. “And no more bad boasting!” –Emmaline Craymer How about you? Have you ever boasted about something you own or something you can do? You probably have, maybe even without knowing it. If others have bragged about themselves in front of you, you know how much it hurts. When you put yourself above somebody else, it hurts them. But when you boast about God and the wonderful things He’s done for all of us, you praise Him and reflect His love and kindness to others. Today’s key verse: My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Psalm 34:2 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Boast about God
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  Still Shining 22.07.2026 4min

  Read: 1 Peter 1:23-25 “I can’t believe Grandma gave me a Bible for my birthday!” Ethan said as he and his older brother Sam walked home from the library. “What am I gonna do with that?” “Well, you could read it,” Sam said. Ethan laughed. “How could an old book written thousands of years ago have anything to say to us today? Dad is always saying the Bible is old-fashioned and outdated. Maybe he’ll let me return it and get something else.” He pointed down the street. “Hey, let’s stop and see the house Uncle Andrew is building. It’s only a couple blocks away.” Sam agreed, so the brothers stopped at the new house. “Looks nice,” Sam said when he saw it. “Is that a solar panel on the roof?” Ethan nodded. “Most of the power for heating and cooling will come from the sun. Uncle Andrew says more and more people are using solar energy now. It’s cheaper and better for the environment.” Sam glanced up at the sky and shrugged. “I don’t see what the big deal is. The sun is just an old star. How could it be useful?” “What are you talking about?” asked Ethan. “The sun gives us the light and energy we need to survive. There wouldn’t be any life on earth without it!” Sam smirked. “Yeah, but it’s older than the Bible, so it can’t be any good to us today, right?” “Oh, I see what you’re doing,” Ethan said, rolling his eyes. “You know it’s not the same thing.” “Actually, it kind of is,” said Sam. “The sun gives us the light we need to live on earth, but the Bible shows us the light of a different Son—Jesus, the Son of God. It tells us how we can have eternal life by trusting in Him. And just like sunlight, the light the Bible shines on our lives is just as powerful today as it was thousands of years ago. It’s the light of God’s truth, and He never changes.” Ethan was quiet as they started heading home. “I guess I’ll give my new Bible a try,” he finally said. “I’ll give you some verses to start with if you want,” Sam said. “Then maybe we can talk about them.” Ethan smiled. “That would be great!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you think the Bible is outdated because it’s been around for a long time? It may be old, but it shines the light of God’s truth on our lives, and His truth never changes. It tells us how God’s Son, Jesus, died for us and rose again so we could have eternal life. Even though it was written thousands of years ago, its light is still shining today. Read it and ask God to help you see and understand its truth. Today’s key verse: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Mark 13:31 (NIV) Today’s key thought: The Bible is for today
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  All Roads Lead to Rome (Part 2) 21.07.2026 4min

  Read: Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23; 1 John 5:9-12 After enjoying a picnic lunch, Uncle Don pointed toward the paths around the picnic area. “Do you remember which path we took to get here?” “It was the one by the swings,” Kennedy said. Elliot disagreed. “It was the one by that flowering bush over there.” “Nuh-uh! I remember seeing the swings right away,” Kennedy insisted. “But I remember seeing a bird’s nest on the other side of that bush!” Elliot shot back. “Let’s try an experiment,” said Uncle Don. “You each sincerely believe you’re right, don’t you?” “Yes!” shouted both of the children. “All right. How about you each try your path and we’ll see who’s right. I’ll walk with Elliot, and Aunt Sue can walk with Kennedy. Whoever finds the car can text the other group. If no one finds the car, meet back here in fifteen minutes.” The kids agreed, and off they went. Fifteen minutes later, they were back at the picnic spot. “I can’t believe neither of us found the car!” Kennedy said. “Uncle Don, do you know where it is?” Uncle Don smiled. “Follow me.” They followed Uncle Don down a path near some wildflowers, and after a few minutes, they saw he was right. “There’s the car!” yelled Elliot. “How did you know, Uncle Don?” Kennedy asked. Uncle Don held up his phone. “I have an app that tells me where my car is parked. It showed me which path to take.” “That’s kind of like what we were talking about earlier—about how the Bible shows us the only path to heaven,” Elliot said. Uncle Don nodded. “You both were very sincere in believing that the path you chose would lead to the car, but your sincerity didn’t help you. You can also be very sincere about the path you choose to try to get to heaven, but unless you choose the right one, your sincerity won’t help you get there either. My phone showed me the truth about where the car was parked, and God’s Word shows us the truth about how to get to heaven. There’s no other way to have eternal life except through Jesus. He’s the one and only way to heaven.” –Harry C. Trover How about you? Do you know the way to heaven? Do you think the way to get there is by going to church, saying prayers, or doing good things? The Bible says nothing you do will ever get you to heaven. It says Jesus is the only way—only He can give you life that lasts forever. Choose the right path by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus is the way to heaven
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  All Roads Lead to Rome (Part 1) 20.07.2026 4min

  Read: John 14:6; Acts 17:10-12 “It’s so pretty here!” Kennedy told her aunt and uncle as she gazed around the picnic area. She turned to her brother. “Don’t you wish we could live in the Rockies, Elliot?” “It sure is nice,” Elliot said. “Look—I guess everybody likes this spot. There are paths coming here from all directions. It’s just like the city of Rome.” “How is this like Rome?” Aunt Sue asked. “Last week our pastor said that in the days of the Roman Empire, you could follow any road and it would lead you to Rome,” Elliot explained. “He said that’s like going to heaven. No matter what religion we follow, it will lead us to heaven if we’re sincere and do our best.” Uncle Don frowned. “Perhaps all roads did lead to Rome, but all religions certainly don’t lead to heaven. The Bible has something to say about that.” “That’s right,” said Aunt Sue. “If we want to know what’s true and what’s not, we can’t accept the word of any person—unless what they say agrees with what we read in the Bible. And in the book of John, Jesus says He is the way to heaven. We can only be saved from sin and have eternal life by trusting in Him.” Kennedy looked doubtful. “I never heard our minister say that. Wouldn’t he know?” “Yeah,” said Elliot. “He’s had lots of training, and he’s a really cool guy!” “It doesn’t matter who he is or how nice he is,” Uncle Don said. “What matters is whether he teaches what God says in His Word. The book of Acts talks about the apostle Paul going to a city called Berea. When he preached to the people there, they checked the Scriptures to see if what he said was correct. That’s what we need to do too.” “I never thought about that,” Elliot said. “I always thought whatever our pastor said was true, but I guess he could be wrong.” Uncle Don nodded. “People can be wrong, but what God says in His Word is always right.” He pulled out his phone. “How about I show you some more Bible verses that talk about how Jesus is the only way to have eternal life?” Elliot and Kennedy nodded and scooched closer. –Harry C. Trover How about you? Do you go to church to learn about God? Do you read books, watch videos, or listen to programs that talk about God? That’s great, but make sure what you’re learning agrees with God’s Word. If you’re not sure whether something is true, ask a parent or teacher to help you find it in the Bible. Follow the example of early Christians and study the Bible so you know what it says. Today’s key verse: They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Study the Bible
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  With Love 19.07.2026 4min

  Read: 1 Corinthians 13 “Keira, let me help you with that.” Alexis reached for a pile of laundry needing to be folded. “It will earn me points for my youth group contest. I want to get the most points so I can win!” One of the ways kids in the youth group could earn points was by helping the members of their family. Keira frowned and batted her sister’s hands away. “I’m not signing any paper saying you helped me with anything. Just leave me and my things alone!” The other members of Alexis’s family were delighted with her behavior. They could hardly believe how helpful she had suddenly become—she did dishes, made beds, offered to help with her brother’s homework, babysat, and even carried out the trash! Keira was the only one who refused her help. Alexis did well in the contest, but she didn’t win. Yet to everyone’s surprise, her helpful ways continued. One day, Keira asked Alexis to help her fold the laundry. Alexis was puzzled. “Why do you let me do things for you now?” she asked. “When we were having the contest, you wouldn’t let me do anything for you.” “Well, now you really want to help me,” Keira replied. “Before, you just did it for points.” Alexis thought about that. “I guess that’s true. I wanted to win the prize for getting the most points.” “Why do you want to help now?” Keira asked. “Well, on the day the contest ended, Miss Wilson talked about a Bible passage that says no matter how much good we do, without love, our good deeds are worthless in God’s sight. She said that’s why she came up with the contest in the first place—to show how often we might think we’re earning points with God when we do good things, but if we don’t have the love of Jesus in our hearts, our good deeds mean nothing. She said we need to trust in Jesus and depend on Him to help us do things for others out of love, and I realized she was right.” Alexis grinned at her sister. “I’m glad you can tell the difference.” “I can.” Keira laughed. “But now I’m sorry I didn’t help you win the contest!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Do you do nice things for other people? Why? Is it so you’ll win points with them and make them like you? Or do you think doing good deeds wins you points with God? He says that all the good things you do mean nothing if they’re not done out of genuine love—the kind of love Jesus has for you. Trust Him to fill your heart with His love so you can let it overflow to others. They can tell the difference! Today’s key verse: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Love one another
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  Walking Home 18.07.2026 4min

  Read: Psalm 23 Owen looked at the frail man on the bed. Grandpa’s getting so weak, he thought. I know he’s going to die soon. “Are you afraid, Grandpa?” he asked. “No, Owen.” Grandpa smiled as he reached for Owen’s hand. “I’m not afraid to die. Jesus is with me. I’m going home to be with Him.” Owen nodded, but he thought he’d be afraid anyway. After all, he couldn’t see Jesus! Later that afternoon, Owen got a text from his friend Kian. “Wanna come over for a while?” Kian asked. “Mom says you can stay for supper.” After checking with his mom, Owen walked across the field to Kian’s house. A few hours later, the boys had just finished a game when Owen glanced out the window. “It’s already dark!” he said, jumping to his feet. “I gotta go!” As Owen started across the field, he could barely make out the path. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, casting weird shadows on the waving grass. Strange sounds came from the trees at the edge of the field. Owen’s heart thumped, and his knees felt weak. Don’t be a baby, he told himself. Shadows can’t hurt anyone. “Owen?” a voice called from the darkness. For a second, Owen’s heart almost stopped, but then he recognized the familiar voice. “Dad! I’m so glad to see you!” Owen said in a wobbly voice. “Or at least, I’m glad to hear you. It’s so dark, I can hardly see anything.” “I know. I came to walk home with you,” Dad said. “I thought you might like some company crossing this dark field.” With Dad beside him, Owen felt like the shadows were friendly, and the sounds were no longer scary. When they got home, Owen went to Grandpa’s room to tell him about the experience. “Once I knew Dad was there, I wasn’t scared anymore,” Owen said, “even though I couldn’t see him. It was almost like I could feel him with me.” He hesitated. “Is that kind of how you’re not afraid to die?” “Exactly,” said Grandpa. “Death is like a dark shadow, and even though I can’t see Jesus, I know He’s there. I feel His presence, and with Him beside me, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Owen nodded, beginning to understand. –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you know someone who is dying? Are you afraid of dying yourself? For a Christian, death is like a shadow. As Psalm 23 says, you don’t have to fear death when Jesus is with you. In fact, the last verse of the Psalm tells what will happen to you if you know Jesus as your Savior. It says you will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jesus promises to walk with you through everything, even death, and bring you home to heaven with Him. Today’s key verse: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Christians don’t have to fear death
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  Pretty Presents 17.07.2026 4min

  Read: Romans 12:1-2 “Whoa!” Vivian exclaimed when she saw the pile of things her mother had laid out on the table. “Is Gracie getting all of that for her birthday?” Mom nodded. “Grandma brought some of it over. She found a lot of things on sale, so your little niece is probably getting more than she needs. I offered to wrap Grandma’s gifts for her.” Vivian sat down beside her mom. “Can I help?” “You sure can,” Mom replied. Vivian chose a doll in a pink dress. She wrapped it in bright purple paper and tied a silver ribbon around the package. “There! That looks really pretty, doesn’t it? But do you know what I like most about presents?” “What’s that?” Mom asked. “What’s inside them,” said Vivian. “That’s the best part of a present.” “I agree,” said Mom, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “P-r-e-s-e-n-t spells an interesting word. It can be pronounced present, which is another word for gift, or it can be present, which means to give.” Vivian laughed. “So when I give a gift, I present a present.” Mom nodded. “That makes me think of a verse in the Bible—one that tells us to present ourselves to God.” Vivian reached for more wrapping paper. “If we do that, are we making ourselves a present for Him? And if our lives are a present, we should make sure they’re filled with good things, right?” “Well, actually, we have nothing good in ourselves to offer God,” Mom said. “We’re saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus’s goodness, not our own.” “But the Bible tells us to do good things after we’re saved, doesn’t it?” asked Vivian. “Yes,” Mom said. “When we put our faith in Jesus, He gives us His Spirit so we can show His love to others and serve Him.” Vivian held up the present she had just finished wrapping. “So it’s not enough to just look good on the outside, like we’re wrapped in pretty paper. When we present ourselves to Jesus, He makes us good on the inside. That’s the kind of present God wants.” “That’s right,” said Mom. “It’s what’s inside that counts.” –Eunice C. Matchett How about you? Has Jesus made you good on the inside? Or are you trying to make yourself look good on your own? You have nothing good in yourself, but when you trust Jesus as your Savior, He gives you His goodness and makes you a truly pleasing gift to God. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Then you can let others see His love and goodness in the way you live. Today’s key verse: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Romans 12:1 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Jesus makes you good
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  Flickering Fireflies 16.07.2026 4min

  Read: Matthew 5:14-16 The evening was cool and clear. The earthy smell of the forest filled the air, and stars shone brightly through the trees. A group of boys and their teacher lingered around the dying campfire at their youth group retreat. “Wow!” Joshua said, craning his head back. “The stars are really bright tonight.” Enoch looked up toward the sky. “They just look brighter because there are no other lights around,” he said. “They stand out more against the darkness.” “I see a firefly,” said Joshua. “Look! Over there.” He pointed toward a tree a few feet away from the fire. The light of the firefly flickered in an on-and-off pattern. “Maybe he’s sending a message in Morse code,” Enoch said. “Quick, Josh, figure out what he’s trying to say.” The boys laughed as they watched the firefly blink on and off. Mr. Bardot, their teacher, looked thoughtful. “Fireflies are amazing little creatures,” he said. “And they have a good lesson to teach us as Christians. Can you guess what it might be?” The boys were silent for a moment. “I know!” said Enoch. “That we need to let our lights shine for Jesus.” “Yeah,” said Joshua. “But not the way fireflies do.” “Why not?” asked Mr. Bardot. “Because whenever our lights are shining, they help draw people to Jesus. So we want them to shine all the time, not flicker on and off.” Mr. Bardot nodded. “Good thinking. What things might keep our lights from shining?” “I think our lights flicker when we’re unkind or selfish or do things we know are wrong,” Enoch said quietly. “Like lying to our parents or cheating on a test.” “Or saying something mean to someone,” added Joshua. “You’re right,” said Mr. Bardot. “Doing things like that doesn’t show others Jesus’s light and the love He’s put in our hearts.” “So how can we keep our lights for Jesus from flickering?” asked Enoch. “By depending on Him to help us reflect His love in all we say and do,” said Mr. Bardot. “He loves us so much that He gave His life for us, and He gives us the Holy Spirit so we can shine the light of His love to others. Let’s rely on Him to help us shine brightly as steady lights in the darkness.” –Linda J. Dahlin How about you? Does your light for Jesus shine all the time, or does it flicker on and off? Do you consistently treat others with kindness, or only if they’re your friends or you’re in a good mood? When you put your faith in Jesus, He gave you the Holy Spirit so you can show His love to others in everything you say and do. Let His light shine through you so others can see His love for them. Today’s key verse: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Be a steady light for Jesus
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  After Snowbunny 15.07.2026 4min

  Read: 1 Peter 5:5-11 Whiskers, Lincoln’s kitten, leaped into the air and batted the shoestring Lincoln was swinging back and forth. “I don’t care how nice Todd is, no one can ever take Dad’s place,” Lincoln told Uncle Shawn. “I don’t want a stepfather.” He sighed. His dad had died a few years before, and now his mom was getting remarried. “Todd isn’t trying to take your dad’s place, Lincoln,” said Uncle Shawn. “He’s a good man who loves your mom, and he wants to be there for you too.” “I don’t care,” Lincoln said. “He’s not Dad, so he might as well stop trying to make me like him.” When Whiskers got tired of the shoelace, he jumped up onto Lincoln’s lap and purred. Lincoln smiled and petted the kitten’s head. “How long ago did you lose your first cat?” Uncle Shawn asked. “Snowbunny? A few months ago,” Lincoln replied sadly. “That’s what I thought, so I’m really surprised to see you treating Whiskers the way you do,” Uncle Shawn said. “You’re just as nice to him as you were to Snowbunny.” Lincoln frowned. “So? What’s wrong with that?” “Don’t you miss Snowbunny?” Uncle Shawn asked. “Of course,” said Lincoln. “But Snowbunny is gone, and now I have Whiskers. He’s a different cat, but he’s special in his own way, and I’m glad I have him.” Uncle Shawn nodded. “I understand, and I think it’s a bit similar to your situation with Todd. I don’t think Todd is trying to be the same as your dad. He knows you loved your dad and would never try to take his place. But if you give him a chance, I think you’ll be glad to have him as part of your family. More than that, since he knows Jesus, he’s already part of your Christian family. God puts other Christians in our lives because He loves us and wants us to show His love to one another. I’m sure Todd will do that for you and your mom, and you can show Todd God’s love in return by giving him a chance and respecting him as your stepfather.” Lincoln looked at the kitten purring in his lap. “Okay, Uncle Shawn,” he said. “I guess I can do that.” –Susan Arcand How about you? Do you have a stepparent? Most stepparents try very hard to fill a difficult position. They know they can never replace your mom or dad, but they can be a wonderful presence and help in your life, especially if they know Jesus. Remember that Jesus is with you in all the changes you face in life and trust Him to help you show His love to stepparents. Today’s key verse: Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Respect stepparents
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  Brothers and Sisters 14.07.2026 4min

  Read: Matthew 5:43-44; Galatians 6:9-10 Nora let the door bang shut just as her brother reached it. “Well, thanks,” Lloyd said sarcastically. “You never hold the door open for me,” said Nora. “You never hold the door open for me,” echoed Lloyd. Nora scowled. “Don’t copy me.” “Don’t copy me.” “Stop it, Lloyd!” yelled Nora. “Stop it, Lloyd!” came the echo. Nora ran to her room and slammed the door. As Nora and her friend Zoe walked home from the bus stop the next day, Zoe’s brother Tracen caught up with them. “How’d you do on the spelling test, Zoe?” he asked. “Great!” Zoe replied. “I got all the words right!” “Awesome!” Tracen started running to catch up with a friend. “I’ll make popcorn when we get home!” he yelled over his shoulder. Zoe grinned and waved as he left. Nora looked at Zoe. “Are you and Tracen always so nice to each other?” “We used to fight a lot,” said Zoe. “But we’ve been learning about Jesus at church and how He loves us so much He died for us and wants us to love others and live in peace. That means caring about other people’s feelings, even when they’re not nice to us. So I tried it, and Tracen did too, and it really made a difference! Sometimes we forget, but we get along a lot better now.” Maybe I should try that with Lloyd, Nora thought. Lloyd arrived home just as Nora ran up the steps, so she held the door open for him. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked. “Nothing,” replied Nora. “Nothing,” Lloyd repeated. Nora just laughed and went to her room. At dinner, Nora handed the potatoes to Lloyd before taking some herself. “How was school?” she asked. “Terrible,” said Lloyd. “I don’t get multiplication.” “I’ll help you tonight if you want,” Nora offered. Lloyd was startled. “Why?” “Because I want to,” Nora replied. Lloyd gave her a strange look, and Nora could hardly believe it when he passed the chicken so she could take a piece first. Thank you, Jesus, she prayed silently. Please help us learn to live in peace. –Janice M. Jones How about you? Are you kind to your brothers and sisters? Or do you tease them or treat them badly—especially when they treat you the same way? It’s not easy to be kind to someone who’s not being kind to you, but Jesus can help you bring peace to your relationships. Trust Him to help you show His love to your brothers and sisters and bring peace to your home. Today’s key verse: Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Be a peacemaker at home
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  A Constant Friend 13.07.2026 4min

  Read: Psalm 145:17-20; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 On Friday, Noah had an invitation to a birthday party and another to a sleepover—and he couldn’t go to both. It was hard choosing between his friends, and he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Then on Sunday, Noah tried contacting his friends to see if anyone wanted to hang out, but they were all busy. “You look bored,” his grandpa said when he came over that evening. Noah sat back on the couch with a sigh. “I thought my friends might want to hang out today, but they all have other plans.” “I see.” Grandpa sat down beside him. “Friends are confusing,” Noah said. “Sometimes everyone wants to hang out with you, and sometimes no one can. Sometimes we all get along, and sometimes we fight.” “Sounds like most relationships,” Grandpa said. “But I’m glad there’s one constant in my life.” “Grandma?” Noah asked. Grandpa smiled. “No. Even we disagree occasionally. But there is someone who never lets me down.” “It’s not me,” Noah said with a knit brow. “I’m pretty sure Dad has let you down before too.” “Any more guesses?” Grandpa asked. Noah shook his head, feeling stumped. “God,” Grandpa said. “He has never let me down.” “God?” Noah asked. Grandpa nodded. “He’s always there for me. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and for the rest of eternity. He is never going to change. Even when your friends aren’t available or things get confusing, you can rely on God to be steady and constant in your life.” Noah ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m glad God’s with me, but it’s not exactly the same.” “As having a friend you can play with? Maybe not. But Jesus said that everyone who trusts Him as their Savior is His friend. He is our perfect friend who gave His life to save us and always listens and cares about everything going on in our lives. When you need a friend, you can always talk to Him.” “Thanks, Grandpa.” Noah gave his grandpa a fist bump. “You’re a pretty good friend too.” –Bethany Acker How about you? Are friendships ever confusing for you? Friends are a gift from God, but they can’t always be there when we want them to be and sometimes let us down. But you can have a constant friend who will never fail you. Jesus is available all the time, and He never changes. He loves you and gave His life to be your friend forever. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Go to Him and tell Him what’s on your mind. Today’s key verse: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Jesus is a constant friend
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  Accepting the Scenic Route 12.07.2026 4min

  Read: Deuteronomy 8:2-5; 29:2-6 “Where are we going, Grandma?” Daisy asked. Grandma opened the gate separating her backyard from the woods behind it. “A place you’ll enjoy,” she replied with a smile. As they walked through the woods, Daisy noticed little chipmunks scurrying up tree trunks, making her giggle. When the wind whistled through the piney limbs, Daisy clung closer to Grandma. “Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Daisy asked. “Do you trust me?” Grandma replied, squeezing Daisy’s hand. Daisy nodded. “It’s just a little further,” said Grandma. The edge of the woods opened onto a farm where sheep and cattle grazed on the grassy hills. A lamb bumbled over and put his hooves against the wooden fence. “My friend owns this farm,” Grandma said. “I thought you would love seeing the animals.” Daisy let the lamb tickle her fingers with his nose. “He’s so cute!” she said. “But why didn’t we just drive here? The path through the woods took forever!” Grandma leaned against the fence. “Do you think there were any benefits to taking the scenic path?” Daisy scrunched up her nose. “Well, we got to spend more time together.” Grandma nodded. “I love spending time with you. What else?” “The forest was more interesting than the main road,” Daisy added. “Oh! And I had to trust that you knew where we were going.” “That’s right,” Grandma said. “Do you remember in the Bible when God led the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years before bringing them to the Promised Land?” “I remember,” Daisy said. “Didn’t God know a faster route?” “Yes, but God wanted them to learn to rely on Him,” Grandma said. “Instead of trusting God, the Israelites complained and disobeyed Him, which is why God kept them in the wilderness for so long. And through their waiting, they got to experience more miracles, such as God sending them food from heaven and keeping their clothes and sandals from wearing out.” “It’s hard for me to wait on God sometimes,” Daisy said. “I know,” Grandma said. “But He’s helping you learn to rely on Him too. As you follow Jesus along the path He has for you, keep your eyes open for the ways He shows you His love and grace on your journey.” –Hannah Chung How about you? Are you waiting for something right now? Do you wonder if God is in control when things don’t happen when you want them to? Remember that God’s timing is perfect, even when you don’t understand it. Look for ways Jesus is showing you His love and grace through waiting periods and trust Him to use scenic routes to help you grow in your faith. Today’s key verse: In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God’s path is best
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  Take Out the Trash 11.07.2026 4min

  Read: Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19 Dad closed the trunk of the car. “Okay, everything’s packed. Let’s go!” “Wait!” Mom called. “Aria and Nolan, please empty the trash in the bedrooms and kitchen before we leave.” “I’ll get the bedrooms,” Aria said. Nolan went to the kitchen and glanced at the trash bag. It wasn’t even full. I’ll empty it when we get back, he thought, and ran to claim his spot in the car. A few hours later, they pulled into the hotel parking lot. “It looks like a windstorm tore through here,” Mom said. “Cans are tipped over with trash scattered everywhere.” Dad nodded. “Maybe some racoons had a party.” “Speaking of trash…” Mom looked into the back seat. “Was the garbage emptied?” “Yup,” Aria proudly announced. There was a long silence, and Dad looked at Nolan in the rearview mirror. “How about you?” “It was only half full,” Nolan said. “I thought it could wait.” “Oh no!” said Mom. “I threw out some spoiled food this morning.” She sighed. “I wish you had done what I asked you to, Nolan. In a couple days, the kitchen is going to smell like a garbage dump!” “This reminds me of a true story,” Dad said. “Forty years ago, the city of Philadelphia had a huge garbage problem. The trash collectors went on strike, and trash piled up in the whole city and smelled horrible for twenty days!” “Gross!” Aria wrinkled her nose. “They decided to burn the garbage, load the ash onto a ship, and sail it away. The ship sailed to several different countries, but no one would take the ash.” “Well, at least we don’t have that much trash in our kitchen,” Nolan said. “No, but sin is like garbage we can’t get rid of ourselves,” Dad replied. “But unlike that ship, we know someone who’s always willing to take it away if we ask Him.” The answer was easy. “Jesus,” Nolan said. “We can confess our sin to Him, and He’ll take out the trash and make us clean.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I messed up and didn’t obey you. I’ll take out the trash the minute we get home.” Dad grinned. “By then, you’ll need a fly swatter, mask, and gloves!” –Matt Shoemaker How about you? Is there a stinky sin weighing on your heart? Do you have trash in your life that needs to be taken out? Ask Jesus to remove it. He died and rose again to save you from sin and is always willing to take out your trash. When you confess your sin to Him, He will gladly forgive you and take it far away! Today’s key verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Jesus takes our trash
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  Hospitality Habits 10.07.2026 4min

  Read: Romans 12:9-13 Hannah gave herself a quick look in the mirror while Faith twirled around in her new skirt. “Girls!” Mom called. “Our company is almost here!” The sisters giggled and raced down the hall. A few minutes later, Mrs. Kelly arrived with her daughter Brittany, who was about the girls’ age, and Brittany’s little sister, Samantha. The girls brought Brittany to their room to play, and Samantha toddled after them. The first thing little Samantha did when she entered the girls’ room was give Faith’s new stuffed kitty a big squeeze. Faith gasped. “Samantha! No! Please put my kitty down!” She took it from Samantha’s hands and placed it out of her reach. Ten minutes later the girls were having a tea party when Samantha accidently bumped into the table and the carefully placed dishes came crashing down. “Samantha!” Hannah said sternly. “You’re ruining everything!” “I’ll take her back to Mom,” Brittany said quietly. She took her younger sister by the hand and led her out of the room. While Mrs. Kelly changed Samantha’s diaper, Mom came to check on her daughters. “How’s it going in here, girls?” Faith sighed. “Brittany’s nice and all, but her baby sister is messing up all our stuff!” “Yeah!” Hannah chimed in. “She even almost broke my favorite pony!” “Girls, do you remember the verse we learned this morning? First Peter 4:9?” “‘Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling,’” the girls mumbled together. Mom nodded. “Jesus sacrificed everything so He could welcome us into His family, and hospitality is one of the ways we show His love to others. Do you think the way you were acting toward Samantha was very hospitable?” The girls looked at the floor and shook their heads. “Well, how can you make this right?” Mom asked. “Wait and see!” Faith said with a grin. When Brittany and Samantha walked in a minute later, the girls knelt down beside Samantha and offered her two of their favorite stuffed animals. “Pet her head, Samantha,” Faith said, holding out her stuffed kitty. “She’s so fluffy.” Samantha pet the kitty’s head and giggled. Mom beamed and headed for the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go share my favorite chocolates with Mrs. Kelly!” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Is it hard for you to share your special toys and treats when others come to visit you? A great way to practice hospitality is to remember two things: 1) People always matter more than things, and 2) God gave us everything we have so we could use it to show others His love. When we open our homes to others, it opens our hearts to them as well. Today’s key verse: Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Practice hospitality
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  From Sunflower to Son-Follower 09.07.2026 4min

  Read: Mark 2:13-15; John 3:36 Reagan peered out the window, wearing her soccer uniform and munching on a sandwich. Dad’s car pulled up and honked. It was Dad’s week to watch her. “Bye, Mom!” Reagan hollered. She slung her bag over her shoulder and ran outside. “Dad! I learned something so cool!” Reagan said, plopping her bag at her feet. She balanced her sandwich on one knee while she buckled up. “Oh yeah?” Dad asked. They rolled past the neighbor’s sunflower garden. “What’s that?” “See those sunflowers? Did you know they’re edible from root to petal? They’re used for all kinds of stuff! Like making sunflower oil, for one thing.” Dad nodded. “I use that to cook with sometimes.” “But the coolest thing about them is heliotropism!” Reagan continued. “That’s a fancy word for how a plant grows in response to sunlight. It’s easy to see in a sunflower, ‘cuz they actually follow the sun’s movement—like solar tracking! It helps the plant’s growth rate and use of light. Isn’t that the coolest?” Dad chuckled at Reagan’s enthusiasm. “Sounds like you’re really into sunflowers.” “I am! You know why I think they’re so cool?” Reagan asked as she took another bite of her sandwich. “Brehcuzz—” “Hold on!” Dad said with another chuckle. “Chew your food first. Then you can tell me all about it.” Reagan swallowed. “Sorry. ‘Cuz in church, I learned we’re supposed to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow Him. Well, Jesus is God’s Son, right? So following the Son of God is like sunflowers following the sun in the sky. We can be Son-followers! Jesus gives us life by shining His light on us and making us grow.” Dad pulled the car into the soccer complex and parked. “Hmm. That’s some sermon, Reagan. You know I don’t go to church, but it sure sounds like you’re excited about it.” “I am! Sunflowers are so cheerful—and I want you to have the joy of knowing Jesus like I do. You could be a Son-follower too, Dad.” Reagan looked across the parking lot. “Oh! There’s my coach. Gotta go!” Reagan shoved the rest of her sandwich into her mouth, grabbed her soccer gear, and hopped out of the car. Dad watched her run to catch up with the rest of her team. –Pearl Allard How about you? Have you experienced the joy of knowing Jesus? Like sunflowers following the sun as it moves across the sky, Christians follow the Son of God. He fills us with His light and makes us grow to be more like Him. When others see His light and joy shine through us, they might want to be Son-followers too! You can become a Son-follower today by trusting in Jesus. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: [Jesus] saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Matthew 9:9 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Follow God’s Son, Jesus
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  Falling Seed 08.07.2026 4min

  Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 “Tell me, kids—if something good happened to you, would you keep it to yourself?” Mr. Miller asked his class at church. “No!” came the answer as all the kids shook their heads. “We like to share our good news with our friends, don’t we?” Mr. Miller continued. “Yet when it comes to the greatest news of all—Jesus saving us by dying for our sins and coming back to life—we often keep that a secret. Why do you suppose that is?” This time, no one could answer Mr. Miller’s question. “If we know Jesus, we need to tell others about Him,” said Mr. Miller. “Let’s bow our heads a moment and ask the Lord to give each of us the name of a friend who needs to hear about Him.” The children sat quietly, and a name came to Dominic’s mind. Oh no! he thought. Not Thatcher! He’ll never listen! After class, Dominic talked with Mr. Miller about it. “Look out the window,” Mr. Miller said. “See the tree growing in the middle of those huge rocks on that hillside? How do you think it got there?” Dominic shrugged. “I guess a seed from another tree fell there and took root.” “Do you think the parent tree worried about how hard the rocks looked when it let the seed drop?” Mr. Miller asked. Dominic shook his head. “That’s right,” said Mr. Miller. “The tree just let the seed fall, and God did the rest. That’s what we need to do too. We need to tell others about Jesus so the seed of His good news can fall. Don’t worry about how it takes root. That’s God’s work, and He can handle it.” Dominic still looked uncertain. “Thatcher’s my friend, but I feel like he’s just gonna laugh at me if I try to tell Him about Jesus.” “It can be scary to tell our friends about Jesus when we don’t know how they’ll respond,” Mr. Miller said. “But remember that God loves Thatcher and has the power to save him, and He’ll be with you the whole time. Pray for Thatcher, and ask Jesus to give you an opportunity to let him know what He’s done for him. He’ll help you spread the seed of His good news in Thatcher’s heart.” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Are you afraid your friends won’t listen to you if you tell them about Jesus? It can be scary, but trust Jesus to help you spread the seed of His good news. Faithfully pray for friends who don’t know Him, and watch for opportunities to talk about Jesus and what He’s done for you. Leave the rest up to God—He’s the one who makes the seed take root. Today’s key verse: I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT) Today’s key thought: Tell friends about Jesus
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  Canning the Word 07.07.2026 4min

  Read: Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 “What a summer this has turned out to be!” said Leah. “When we moved to the country, I thought I’d be riding horses and wading in the creek. But lately it seems like all I’ve been doing is snapping beans, husking corn, shelling peas, and now peeling peaches for canning and freezing.” Mom smiled. “I think you’ve found plenty of time for fun things too, and when winter comes, you’ll be glad we have all this food preserved.” Leah shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m tired of it now!” A few months later, shortly after Christmas, a blizzard began. Soon Leah and her family were snowed in. “Oh, Mom, what are we going to do?” Leah asked as she stared through the window at the swirling snow. “It might be days before we can get out!” Mom smiled. “Well, we’ve got lots of wood for the fire, and the freezer is full of meat. And we’ve got plenty of good home-canned food too.” “That’s true!” said Leah. “There’s no danger we’ll go hungry, is there?” She sighed. “But I’m so bored! It’s too windy and cold to play outside. What can I do that’s fun?” Mom laughed. “You have lots of books and games and puzzles. You could also memorize your verses for church.” “Yeah, but I don’t see why we have to learn so many verses,” said Leah. “We’ve got lots of Bibles—and you and Dad even have Bibles on your phones. Anytime we need a verse, we can just look it up.” “Remember how you complained about all that canning and freezing last summer?” Mom asked. “Now that a storm came along and we’re snowed in and can’t get to the store, we’re glad we have lots of food stored up, right?” “Sure,” Leah said. “Well, in life, you never know when stormy times will come. There may be times when you’ll face temptation or need to remember God’s love for you or have a chance to tell someone about Jesus, and it’s not always possible or convenient to look up verses in the Bible or on a phone. Then you’ll be glad to have those verses stored in your heart so you can feast on God’s Word anytime!” “So I should ‘can’ those verses?” Leah asked with a smile. “Okay, I will!” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Do you memorize God’s Word? Memorizing Bible verses is a great way to help you remember what Jesus has done for you and share Him with others. Verses you’ve learned can be a help, encouragement, and comfort to you. Think about what each verse means as you memorize. Then store it in your heart so you’ll have it whenever you need it. Today’s key verse: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Memorize Bible verses
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  Bianca’s Baby Book 06.07.2026 4min

  Read: Psalm 103:11-12; Malachi 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Look, Bianca!” Mom was sitting on the couch with a big book on her lap. “Here’s a lock of your hair from when you were three months old—and look at your footprint from when you were born.” Bianca grinned. “Wow! It’s really tiny! That’s my baby book, isn’t it? It’s been a long time since I’ve looked at it.” “I wrote all these entries in it during your first three years,” Mom said. “It says you walked and talked early. You took your first step at nine months. You said ‘Dada’ at five months—at least, your dad said you did—and you could sing the ABCs by the time you were two and a half. You were a smart little cookie.” “Really?” Bianca sighed. “Well, I’m not smart anymore. I’m always doing dumb things now.” “That’s not true,” said Mom. “Sometimes you just dwell on your mistakes too much.” She pointed to the book. “Why do you think I didn’t write things like, ‘Today Bianca fell down fifteen times trying to walk’?” Bianca laughed. “That wouldn’t sound too good.” “No, but falling down is part of learning to walk,” said Mom. “I don’t remember how many times you fell, but I do remember that first step. I didn’t record the times you cried for what seemed like hours. But you were a sweet baby, and I recorded that. Moms always write good memories in baby books.” She smiled at Bianca. “Did you know that God has a book of remembrance too?” “He does? Does He only write down good things in His book like moms do?” Mom nodded. “He doesn’t keep a record of the wrong things Christians do. When we trust in Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. He only remembers the good things.” “So He doesn’t want us to feel bad about all the wrong things we’ve done?” Mom shook her head. “Sin does have consequences, and when we do something wrong, Jesus wants us to confess our sin to Him. But it will never show up in God’s remembrance book because Jesus took all our sins on Himself when He died. Instead of dwelling on our mistakes, He wants us to show His love to others and joyfully walk with Him.” –Barbara J. Westberg How about you? Did you know that, if you’re a Christian, God doesn’t keep a record of your sins? He only remembers the good things you do out of the love He’s put in your heart. So don’t dwell on your failures and mistakes. When you do something wrong, confess it to Jesus. He promises to forgive you and help you do good things that show the love and joy you have in Him. Today’s key verse: Love is patient, love is kind…it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God remembers good things
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  All Things 05.07.2026 4min

  Read: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 8:28, 38-39 Kate squeezed sand between her toes as she watched a young mother swing her daughter around and catapult her into the water. The girl giggled and called out for more. Kate looked at her mom and remembered when she was strong and healthy enough to do the same thing with her. Now if Mom wanted to get in the water at the beach, she had to crawl through the sand until she reached the water’s edge. Walking was just too painful most days. Mom patted the blanket, and Kate curled up next to her. “Mom, why do you have this awful sickness? Why can’t the doctors help you? I’ve been praying every day, but it seems like God isn’t listening!” Mom stroked Kate’s silky hair. “I don’t know, sweetie, but I’m so thankful you’re praying for me. Don’t give up! Remember what we read in Romans this morning about God always being with us and using everything in our lives for good?” “I remember,” Kate said. “It’s just that all of this is so bad!” Mom nodded sadly. “It is. But we have to keep trusting that God is working in all this bad and will make something good come out of it.” “Hey!” Kate sat straight up. “That reminds me of the story of Joseph. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown in jail for something he didn’t do. But God used those bad things to place Joseph as second in command over Egypt. When there was a severe famine, Joseph was able to save many people’s lives!” Mom nodded. “Joseph trusted God, even though he didn’t understand why He would allow all those bad things to happen to him. And we need to trust God in our situation. We don’t know why He allowed me to get sick, but perhaps, like Joseph’s hardships, it will help save people’s lives by pointing them to Jesus. He did the greatest good of all by suffering and dying on a cross to save us, and we can trust Him to use everything in our lives for good too.” Kate looked at her mom. “I’ll remind us to keep trusting Him.” Mom smiled. “I’d be thankful for that. And here’s something else to be thankful for—we’re at the beach, not in a stinky jail cell!” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you ever wonder why God allows people you love to get sick or hurt? This world we live in is full of pain and sorrow, but we are not alone. Jesus knows what it’s like to go through pain and suffering, and He promises to be with us in everything we face and use it for good. He died and rose again so we could have a future free from pain, sickness, and death. We can trust Him. Today’s key verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. Romans 8:28 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Trust God in hard times