Read: Jeremiah 18:3-6 “What are you making, Grandpa?” Elena asked, walking over to the porch swing where her grandfather was shaving slivers from a small block of wood. Grandpa held it up to show her. “There’s an eagle trapped in this wood, and I’m setting it free.” Elena looked closely at the block in his hands and then up at Grandpa. “I don’t see anything in there.” Grandpa smiled. “Oh, it’s there all right.” He turned the wood block in his hand. “I’ll show it to you later this evening.” When they all sat down to dinner that evening, Grandpa placed a newly carved eagle beside Elena’s plate. “There you are, young lady,” he said with a wink. “There’s the eagle I set free from the wood.” Elena’s eyes grew wide with amazement. “Wow!” she said. “It’s so pretty!” “I want you to have it,” Grandpa said. “And whenever you look at it, I want you to remember that Jesus has done the same with you.” “Jesus made me like this eagle?” Elena asked. Grandpa nodded. “You couldn’t see the eagle in the block of wood this morning, but I could. I freed it from the wood and carved it into a special creation. It doesn’t look like an old block of wood anymore, does it?” “No,” Elena said, picking up the sculpture. “Now it’s a beautiful eagle!” “Right,” said Grandpa. “And that’s what Jesus does for us. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to save us, and when we put our faith in Him, He sets us free from sin and makes us new people. We’re no longer blocks of wood but new, beautiful creations. But sometimes we lose sight of that when we face difficult circumstances or make bad choices. That’s why I made you this eagle—to help you remember that you’re a beautiful sculpture in God’s hands. You can always trust Him to forgive your mistakes and guide you in His plan for your life.” Elena looked at the eagle again. “Thank you, Grandpa,” she said. “I’m going to put this on my dresser where I’ll see it every day!” –Richard S. Maffeo How about you? Did you know that, if you trust in Jesus, you’re like a beautiful eagle carved out of wood? You’re no longer stuck in a block of sin—He’s set you free and has made you into something new. The Bible compares God to an artist—a potter—molding you into something beautiful. Trust Him to forgive you when you mess up and to guide your steps as you live your life as a new creation. Today’s key verse: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Jesus makes us beautiful

Read: Psalm 119:129-133 “How about this pair, Mom?” Lizzie asked. She slid the glasses onto her face and peeked in the eye doctor’s mirror. “Those look nice on you.” Mom held up another pair. “But try these frames on first before you decide which ones you want.” “Isn’t it funny,” Lizzie said as she stared at her reflection, “how much we care about how the glasses look when they’re actually just to help me see!” “That reminds me of something I read in my Bible this morning,” Mom said. “Remember what happened when your old glasses broke and you went to school without them?” Lizzie nodded. “I tripped on the steps because I couldn’t see.” “Right. Well, just like glasses, we need God’s Word to help us see clearly. The Bible helps us see how much we need Jesus to save us from sin and shows us how to live as God’s children. But our glasses can’t help us if we don’t wear them.” Lizzie thought of her Bible sitting at home on her nightstand. She left it out because she liked the way her new pink Bible looked with her pink room decorations, but she hadn’t opened it in quite a while. “I guess the Bible won’t do me much good if I don’t read it,” Lizzie said. “I’m going to try to start reading some verses every day.” Mom smiled. “That’s great! As we read God’s Word, He’ll use it to shape our hearts and help us focus on Jesus and the hope we have in Him.” Later that week Mom and Lizzie returned to the doctor’s office to pick up her new glasses. “Wow!” Lizzie said as she looked around. “Having new glasses really makes a difference!” She remembered how earlier that week she had read a verse about showing God’s love to others during her devotions. When she had felt angry at school because of a friend’s mean words, she reminded herself of the verse. It helped her not say something mean back. Mom was right, she thought. God used His Word to help me see what He wanted me to do in that situation. Lizzie smiled and reached up to touch her new frames. Just like glasses. –Jessica Kleeberger How about you? Have you ever needed to get glasses? It’s fun to pick out nice frames, but the true purpose of glasses isn’t to make you look good—it’s to help you see! Our Bibles shouldn’t be decorations either. They are God’s special words that tell us the story of Jesus and how He died and rose again to give us eternal life. Through the Bible, we can clearly see our need for Him and how He wants us to live. Today’s key verse: How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9 (NIV) Today’s key thought: God’s Word helps us see clearly

Read: Psalm 37:3-7 Something was rubbing against the chain when Lyle tried to ride his bike, and with his mom’s medical bills piling up, there was no way his family could afford a new one. “Dad said he would fix that.” His sister’s voice came from behind him as he started to work on the bike himself. “He’s looking over the budget again,” Lyle said. “He never has time.” Lyle tugged on the wheel with all his might, and his mouth dropped open when he broke it right off the bike. “Oops.” “Lyle!” his sister exclaimed. “Now it can’t even be fixed.” Lyle put a hand over his face. “I should have waited for Dad.” That evening Lyle’s dad peeked into his room. “I just saw your bike. What happened?” Lyle sighed. “I was trying to fix it.” “I told you I would take a look at it.” “I know, but you were so busy,” Lyle said. “You have Mom to take care of, and you’ve been trying to figure out how you’re going to pay the bills…” Dad stepped into the room. “I have been busy. Life has been hard for all of us. I’m sorry.” “I was trying to fix it by myself and I ended up making things worse,” Lyle said. “I don’t know if you’ll be able to fix it anymore.” “I’ll look at it.” Dad walked across the room. “You know, bud, you’ve got me thinking about something your mom has been telling me. She said that her sickness and our finances are out of my control. She sees me trying to fix things and tells me I need to stop, that I need to put it all in God’s hands.” “Because He’s our heavenly Father and knows best?” Lyle asked. “Right.” Dad smiled. “He’s our Father because He loves us so much that He gave His Son to die for us. He sent Jesus to save us from sin because we could never do it ourselves.” Dad sat down on the bed. “I mess up when I try to handle things on my own. I need to trust Him.” Lyle nodded. “I hope I didn’t mess up the bike forever.” “Why don’t we go take a look at it together?” said Dad. “And maybe we could ask God to show us what to do too.” –Emily Acker How about you? What do you do when you have a problem and don’t know what you should do? Do you ask God for help and wait for Him to take care of things? Or do you try to handle everything on your own? God loves you and cares about everything you’re going through, and He wants you to come to Him for help. Instead of trying to fix things yourself, ask Him for help and trust Him to know what to do. Today’s key verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Trust God and wait for Him

Read: Ephesians 4:21-25; Colossians 3:9-10 Camden and Callie grinned at each other as Mom pulled the car up to the sandy shores of the lake. They grabbed their shovels, raced to the edge of the sparkling water, and began to create castles with deep moats in the sand. Suddenly, Camden cried out in pain and covered his eyes. “What’s the matter, sweetie?” Mom asked. Camden pointed an accusatory finger at his sister. “Callie threw sand in my eyes—on purpose!” Mom carefully rinsed out Camden’s eyes with clean water. “Thanks, Mom.” Camden hurried off to jump into the beckoning water. “Callie, could you please come here?” Callie put her pink shovel down and plopped down next to Mom with a sigh. “What just happened with your brother?” Mom asked. “Well, I think he got upset because I accidentally threw sand at him.” Mom’s eyes widened. “Accidentally?” “Yep!” “Is that what you would tell Jesus?” Mom asked softly. Callie looked down. “No. I did throw the sand at him on purpose. I was mad because he started digging next to my castle’s moat and it crumbled. I’m sorry, Mom! I didn’t want to tell the truth and get in trouble.” “Callie, you belong to Jesus, right?” Callie smiled wide. “Yes I do!” “Do you remember those verses in Colossians you memorized a few weeks ago?” “The ones about not lying to each other because we’ve been made new in Jesus?” Mom nodded. “Because we belong to Jesus, we have taken off our old selves, just like you’ll take off your sandy beach clothes later. You won’t put the dirty ones back on again tomorrow, will you?” Callie wrinkled her nose. “No! I’ll put on new clothes!” She sighed. “I see what you mean, Mom. I’m not the same person I used to be. I belong to Jesus now, so I need to put on the new life He’s given me and trust Him to help me be like Him.” Mom smiled. “Exactly! Now, don’t you think you should go apologize to your brother?” Callie jumped up. “Yes! And the next time I want to tell a lie, I’ll remember to put on God’s truth instead. I don’t like dirty clothes!” –Savannah Coleman How about you? Do you belong to Jesus? If so, He’s forgiven your sin and made you a new person. That means it’s time to take off your old, sinful habits and put on the new life He’s given you. You’ll still feel the urge at times to lie or do other things that are wrong, but you don’t have to do those things anymore. Instead, embrace who you are in Jesus by speaking the truth and doing what’s right. Today’s key verse: You have taken off those old clothes…Now you are wearing a new life. Colossians 3:9-10 (ERV) Today’s key thought: Put on your new life

Read: Proverbs 15:1-4; James 1:19-21, 26 Gemma looked in horror as her chocolate milkshake began to spread over the table. “Why can’t you leave my stuff alone, Elle?” she yelled at her sister. “I didn’t mean to spill it,” said Elle. Her lower lip was trembling. “I just wanted a taste.” Mom unrolled some paper towels and took them to the table. “No, wait,” Gemma said. “I want to drink it! We’ve got to put it back in the cup.” “I don’t see how you can do that,” said Mom. Gemma grabbed a spoon and tried to scoop up the creamy drink, but it was no use. “I bought this with my own money!” she said angrily. “I’m sorry,” Elle said. “Well, you should have just kept your little hands to yourself,” Gemma shot back. “You’re going to buy me another milkshake the next time we’re at the mall.” “But I don’t have that much money,” Elle said, tears springing to her eyes. “Then save up,” Gemma said. She glared at Elle. “I wish I didn’t have a little sister.” “You can go play, Elle,” said Mom, “but after this, leave Gemma’s things alone.” After Elle left, Mom turned to Gemma. “Elle shouldn’t have touched your milkshake, but that’s no excuse for saying unkind things to her.” Gemma looked up from wiping the table. “Why are you lecturing me? She’s the one who messed with my stuff!” Mom frowned. “Gemma, hearing you say you wish you didn’t have a sister hurt her much more than the spilled milkshake hurt you.” “Well, I was mad,” Gemma said. “I didn’t mean it.” “We can be angry and still watch what we say,” Mom replied. “When we don’t, words can spill out and make a bigger mess than that drink did. And taking those words back is just as impossible as putting a milkshake back in a cup. You can never take them back—the damage can only be repaired with forgiveness.” Gemma sighed as she threw the wet paper towels in the trash. “I’ll go apologize to Elle.” “Good,” said Mom. “And you can ask Jesus to forgive you too. He promises He will, and He’ll help you respond to others in a loving way, even when you feel angry.” –Debra W. Smith How about you? Are you careful to not say angry, thoughtless words? Sometimes it’s hard not to let them spill out, but once they’re said, it’s impossible to take them back. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to make things right. When your words have hurt someone, ask for forgiveness—both from Jesus and the person you hurt. Then trust Jesus to help you control your tongue in the future. Today’s key verse: Let the words of my mouth…be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Control your tongue

Read: Matthew 5:13-16 “What are you doing, Auntie Laura?” Deb clambered onto the stool for a better look at the lemon her aunt was grating. “You said you’d make blueberry muffins…but you’re putting in lemon peel?” Deb grimaced. “It’s my secret ingredient,” replied Aunt Laura, tapping strands of lemon skin into the batter. Deb’s grimace remained stamped on her face. “But no one eats lemon peels.” Aunt Laura chuckled. “No, not right off the fruit.” She measured the salt, saying, “No one eats salt from a teaspoon either.” Deb giggled. “That would be gross!” Aunt Laura whisked the batter. “The lemon rind and the salt are both seasonings that add flavor so the muffins will taste better.” “I don’t understand how that works,” said Deb. She leaned her arms on the counter. “I also don’t understand what Jesus meant about people being the salt of the earth.” “People can act like salt!” replied Aunt Laura, wiping her hands on her apron. “As followers of Jesus, we can trust Him to help us blend His truth and love into what we say and what we do.” She scooped batter into the muffin tins. “If we do that, then we’re adding the extra ingredient of faith to our words and actions. In a way, we’re ‘seasoning’ them with God’s goodness.” “I get it!” exclaimed Deb. “If I say and do things that show I have faith in Jesus, then I’m adding flavor like salt does.” She hopped off the stool to open the oven door for Auntie Laura. “But how do I know if I’m doing it right?” “That’s easy,” said her aunt, sliding the muffin tray into the oven. “When your words and actions line up with what God says in the Bible and the kindness and love Jesus has shown us, you leave a trail of blessings wherever you go!” “I want to be a blessing,” said Deb. She headed to the sink and picked up a dishrag. She wiped away drops of spilled batter from the counter. “Does that add some flavor to your day?” asked Deb with a grin. Aunt Laura hugged her and said, “Now that’s a blessing I can savor.” –Elena Dee How about you? Do your words and actions reveal your faith in Jesus? Do you “season” your day with conversations and acts that reflect the love He has shown you? Trust Him to guide you in what you say and what you do so others can see His truth, love, and goodness in your life. Can you think of some people you want to help? Show others your faith and be a blessing to them! Today’s key verse: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Be a blessing

Read: Romans 12:4-8 Dallon grinned when he saw the mascot of his favorite baseball team coming toward them near the stadium entrance. “Look, Alli!” he said. But Dallon’s excitement turned to anger when the mascot gave him a high five but didn’t even acknowledge Alli. “Hey,” he called after him, “you didn’t talk to my sister!” His aunt touched his arm. “Let’s go inside.” Dallon and his aunt walked toward the stadium, his mom pushing his sister’s chair in front of them. “That was so rude,” said Dallon. “Alli loves him. That’s why Mom brought us to the game today. How could he just go past her like that? It’s like he didn’t even see her.” “He doesn’t know your sister like you do,” his aunt said. “He didn’t realize she was interested in him.” “She was moving around like she does when she’s excited,” Dallon said. “If she could talk, she would have been yelling out to him.” “He didn’t know the way she was moving meant she was excited. You knew that because you know your sister; that makes you the perfect person to speak up for her.” Dallon’s mom turned toward them, holding out their tickets. “We can all use our voices to speak up for Alli and those like her,” she said. “We know things others don’t because we’ve spent a lot of time with her. God can use us to change how others see her.” “But we need to be patient,” Dallon’s aunt said. “We’ve had a lot of time to get to know Alli and all that makes her unique, but others haven’t. God has blessed us by putting her in our family, but others only spend a short amount of time with her.” They made their way into the crowded stadium. “It’s great that you’re willing to speak up for your sister.” Dallon’s aunt put an arm around his shoulders. “It shows the love you have for her, and it helps others see that God loves her too.” Dallon looked around. He didn’t see a single person in a chair like Alli’s or who seemed similar to her. He nodded slowly. In Sunday school he had learned about the unique gifts God gave to different people that reflected Jesus’s love, and maybe speaking up for his sister was part of his. –Emily Acker How about you? Has God given you a gift that allows you to look out for others in a special way? Perhaps it’s speaking up for those who can’t speak for themselves, or encouraging others when they’re feeling down, or being a friend to those who need one. God gives spiritual gifts to everyone who trusts in Jesus so we can reflect His love to others in our own unique way. Trust Him to help you use your gift to show others His love. Today’s key verse: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV) Today’s key thought: Use your gift to help others

Read: Isaiah 40:28-31 Liam looked out the window of his friend Michael’s house as they finished their lunch. “Look at those trees,” he said. “They’re bending over from the wind.” “So were we, a few minutes ago,” said Michael. “It’s too hard to play ball with this much wind. I’m tired. We’ll have to think of something to do inside.” Liam pulled a movie out of his backpack. Michael’s mom took their plates. “I’m sorry, Liam, but I promised your mother you’d play outside, not watch movies. I’m sure you boys can think of something to do.” “I know!” said Michael. “You brought your rollerblades, right? I have an idea.” The boys put on their skates, and Michael pulled four snow shovels from the shed and handed two to Liam. “Are you crazy?” Liam asked, giving his friend a fake punch. “It’s hot out, not snowing!” Michael smiled. “Just wait and see.” They stumped around the house to the driveway. “Hold up your shovels like this,” Michael said. He held his shovels high. A blast of wind whooshed, and Michael skimmed along the drive and onto the sidewalk. “Come on, Liam!” he shouted. Liam held his shovels up, but nothing happened. Grumbling, he bent and struggled against the wind to where Michael stood. Just as he got there, panting, another gust sent Michael soaring. He made a wide circle and swooped over to Liam. “Are there wings on your rollerblades or what?” Liam demanded. “You took off like a huge bird!” “That’s what gave me the idea! In church we talked about how even kids get tired and how God gives us wings like eagles. Wings made me think of using snow shovels to catch the wind. The trick is to hold them up in the right direction so the wind does the work.” Mom walked over carrying knee pads. “That’s what Jesus does for us,” she said. “He did all the work of saving us by dying for our sin, and He gives us strength when we grow tired. When we feel worn out from trying to do things on our own, we need to depend on Him for strength and trust Him to lead us in the right direction.” “Cool. Thanks, Mom. Let’s go!” The boys put on their knee pads and sailed off. –Robin Steinweg How about you? Do you feel tired and worn out? Are there problems in your life you’re trying to fix on your own? Life can be difficult sometimes, but remember that if you trust in Jesus, He’s always with you. He is strong enough to save you from sin, and He promises to give you strength when you face hard times. Trust Him to help you through difficulties and lead you in the right direction. Today’s key verse: Those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (CSB) Today’s key thought: Jesus gives you strength

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:8-9 Millee grunted as she helped her aunt lift the heavy dog into the tub. Titan was a giant, and it took both her and Aunt Jodie to pick him up. Millee turned on the handheld sprayer while her aunt mixed the soaps. Aunt Jodie was a dog groomer, and a few times a year Millee would bring her long-haired dog over to Aunt Jodie’s house for a good bath and a brush. “He’s extra gross today,” Millee warned her aunt. “He really loves rolling around in the dirt.” Her aunt smiled as she applied a generous amount of shampoo to the dog’s long coat. “I see we have a lot of mats to work out today too,” she said, running her fingers over the thick chunks of fur around Titan’s ears, neck, and belly. “We’ve got our work cut out for us today.” The two worked in silence for a while, scrubbing the dog’s fur and rinsing his thick coat. Then they wrapped him in a big towel, carried him to the grooming table, and kept working. Aunt Jodie ran the blow dryer while Millee struggled with the dog brush. By the time Aunt Jodie was finished, Titan’s fur looked extra fluffy. “I always love getting the big, hairy, matted dogs to work on,” she said. Millee looked at her in surprise. “You do? But aren’t they more work to groom?” Aunt Jodie nodded. “Oh yes, but they’re the most fun. They have the most remarkable transformations. And they’re always the ones that make me think about the Lord.” Millee’s eyebrows scrunched together. “What? How do shaggy dogs make you think about the Lord?” Aunt Jodie picked up another brush and helped Millee work out the tangles. “When I’m cleaning and grooming a particularly shaggy and dirty dog, I’m reminded of what Jesus does for me. Because He died for my sins on the cross, I’ve been made clean and declared righteous, which means I’m faultless in God’s eyes. And day by day He is also washing me, cleansing me, and transforming me more into His likeness.” Millee smiled. “And that’s an even bigger transformation than we’re giving to Titan.” Aunt Jodie nodded. “It sure is.” –Emily Tenter How about you? Have you been washed and cleansed by Jesus? If you’ve trusted Him as your Savior, He has washed your sin away and made you right with God. And day by day, as He forgives your wrongs and helps you love others and turn from sin, He is making you more like Him. It’s quite a transformation! If you haven’t yet trusted in Him, you can have a clean heart and new life today. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today’s key verse: For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) Today’s key thought: Jesus transforms us

Read: 1 Timothy 4:8-12 Abby was happy with herself for coming up with a good morning routine. Each morning before she went down for breakfast, she picked up her Bible from her nightstand and read a bit from it, and then she prayed. It felt good to connect with God before she even talked to anyone in her family. Abby knew her aunt had been doing something like that for a long time, and she was the one who had inspired her. She felt a bit silly telling her about it, but when she saw her aunt one afternoon, she did just that. “Wow! I’m so proud of you.” Aunt Hannah hugged her. Abby blushed. “You inspired me. I know you read your Bible and talk to God every day.” Aunt Hannah’s brows lowered as she took a seat on the porch step. “Actually, I’ve been so busy lately that I’ve been forgetting to do that.” Abby’s eyes widened. “Really?” Aunt Hannah nodded. “It’s too easy to become distracted by other things. But I want to get back into good habits and a good routine.” She smiled at Abby. “Thank you for telling me what you’ve been up to. Now you’ve inspired me!” “I have?” Abby hadn’t expected that. She had just wanted her aunt to know how she had encouraged her. Aunt Hannah got up and hugged her. “We all need to do that for each other sometimes. As Christians, we’re all part of God’s family, and the Holy Spirit uses the truth of God’s Word to work in our hearts and make us more like Jesus. That means we need to remind each other what Jesus did to save us and how He wants us to live. We need to encourage one another and set an example for others.” “Even a kid like me?” Abby asked. Aunt Hannah laughed. “Yes. The Bible says not to let anyone think less of you because you are young. You can do so much to inspire others, just like you did for me today.” Abby had never thought of that before. She knew she wanted to read her Bible and pray each day to grow in her relationship with Jesus, but maybe she could do more to encourage others in their relationship with Him too. –Bethany Acker How about you? Has someone inspired you to make changes in your life that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus? Maybe you’ve seen how their spiritual habits have helped them and you want to follow their example. God uses the encouragement and example of other Christians to work in our hearts, and He wants you to be an example for others, no matter how young you are. How can you encourage others in their walk with Jesus? Today’s key verse: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV) Today’s key thought: You can inspire others

Read: James 1:22-25 After a delicious lunch on Father’s Day, Ophelia joined the rest of her family to watch Dad open his presents. “Open mine first, Daddy,” Evelyn said eagerly. “I made you a picture.” “Don’t tell,” said Ophelia, but everyone laughed as Evelyn insisted on helping her father open the package containing the picture she had drawn for him. Then they watched while he opened the rest of his gifts. Every family member had bought or made something for Dad—everyone, that is, except for Ophelia. “These gifts are wonderful!” said Dad. “I can hardly wait to use them. Thank you all very much!” “You didn’t open Ophelia’s present,” Evelyn said. “Where is it, Ophelia?” Ophelia was embarrassed. Everyone was waiting to see what she had for Dad. “I—I love you, Dad, and I was going to buy or make you something, but I’ve been so busy,” she said, blushing. Dad was very gracious. “I know,” he assured her, “and I have enough presents. Come on, let’s have some of that great-looking cake!” That night Mom found Ophelia crying in her room. “I didn’t have a present for Dad,” she said, tears spilling onto her pillow. “It’s okay, Ophelia. You couldn’t help it if you didn’t have time or money to get something for Dad,” Mom told her. “I know, but…I could have taken time to make something for him,” Ophelia admitted. “You even offered to help me make him some cookies, but I just didn’t get around to it.” “It would have been nice to do something to show your love,” Mom said. “It’s so easy to say we love someone, but love is more than words. It’s action—like God showing how much He loved us by sending Jesus to save us.” Ophelia nodded. “I’m going to make tomorrow another Father’s Day for Dad!” she said. “I’ll, uh—oh, I know! I’ll show him I love him by cleaning out his car.” “I’m sure He’ll love that,” Mom said. “And let’s not forget to let our actions show our love for our heavenly Father too.” –Jan L. Hansen How about you? Do your actions show your love for your parents and others who are important to you? It’s important to tell people you love them, but those words need to be backed up with actions. God showed us His love by sending His Son, Jesus, to die to save us from sin. We can show our love for Him in return by obeying and serving Him. Today's key verse: Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (NLT) Today's key thought: Put love into action

Read: Psalm 143:8-10; Titus 2:11-14 Austin’s black Labrador tilted his head to one side and lifted his front paw. “No, not shake! Lie down! Can’t you learn anything?” Austin sighed. “Let’s try something else. Fetch, Baxter! Fetch!” Austin hurled a ball across the yard, and Baxter raced after it. Before it dropped to the ground, Baxter leaped into the air and caught it in his mouth. “Wow! Good dog!” Austin called, clapping his hands. “Now bring it here, Baxter!” Baxter’s wagging tail stopped and pointed into the air. He perked his ears and stared at the other side of the yard. Then he dropped the ball and dashed after a squirrel. “This is hopeless,” Austin said, letting himself drop to the ground. “What’s hopeless?” asked Austin’s older sister, Makenna. She sat on the grass next to him. “I’m trying to train Baxter. I’ve been trying to teach him how to sit and shake and lie down and fetch, but I’m about ready to give up. Sometimes it seems like he’s getting the hang of it, then, out of the blue, he runs off and chases a squirrel or something.” “Baxter’s a hunting dog, so it’s in his nature to do that,” said Makenna. She glanced at her brother. “Kind of like it’s in our nature to do the wrong thing sometimes. That’s what Pastor Pham’s sermon was about, remember?” “Yeah, thanks for the reminder,” Austin said, thinking of something mean he’d said to Makenna the day before. He hoped God didn’t give up on him as easily as he gave up on Baxter. “Do you suppose God thinks we’re hopeless?” he asked. “Of course not,” said Makenna. “When we were hopelessly lost in sin, God sent Jesus to save us! He promises to train us and make us grow to be more like Jesus by helping us understand and obey what He says in the Bible. And though there will be many times when we wander away from Him and do something wrong—like Baxter going after those squirrels—He never gives up on us and will always forgive us.” Something pawed at Austin’s back. He turned to find Baxter holding the ball in his mouth. Austin smiled and patted Baxter’s head. “Want to try again?” He threw the ball, and Baxter bounced away after it. –Debra VanDyke How about you? Do you feel like a hopeless case—like you’ll never be able to stop doing things that are wrong? Struggling against sin is part of every Christian’s life, but don’t give up on yourself, because God never will! He sent Jesus to save you from sin and will always forgive you, no matter how many times you do something wrong. Trust Him to train you and make you more like Him—He is all the hope you need. Today's key verse: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10 (CSB) Today's key thought: God trains Christians

Read: Genesis 1:26-31 Layna held her position as she landed a pirouette, the final move in the dance. She pushed her bellybutton as far back to her spine as she could, gazing at herself in the mirror. Her eyes then followed down the line of girls. She stood a head taller than any of them, and though she tried, she couldn’t get her stomach in far enough. “Nice job,” said Miss Susan, the instructor at her dance school, when class ended. Layna shook her head, disagreeing with her teacher. Miss Susan raised her eyebrows. “What’s wrong? You nailed that turn.” Layna’s eyes followed the other dancers as they filed out of the studio. She waited until the room had emptied to speak. “I’m the biggest person here, and I’m not even the oldest. I feel so weird, like everyone must be pointing at that big girl and laughing whenever I dance.” Layna studied her reflection some more. “Layna, you’re a beautiful dancer,” said Miss Susan. “Don’t let anyone speak lies and tell you any different. Besides, I wouldn’t want all my dancers to look the same.” Layna didn’t answer, but she stopped staring at herself in the mirror to look at Miss Susan. “Did you know humans are the only ones created in God’s image?” Miss Susan asked. “No animals or even the angels reflect God the way we do. And when God finished creating everything, He saw it was good. Imagine God patting Himself on the back and saying, ‘Wow, look at Layna. I did good!’” “God thought He had done good by creating me?” Layna asked. She tried to picture God forming Adam out of the dust. “When He made Adam, did He know He’d make me one day too?” Miss Susan nodded. “Yes, He did. And He loves you, Layna—so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you so you could be saved from sin. And He gave you a wonderful body that can do amazing things—like think and talk and do pirouettes!” Layna smiled as she picked up her dance bag. God created her, loved her, and sent His Son to die for her. She’d heard the words before, but she had never let them sink in until now. –Joanna Bair How about you? Do you ever find yourself staring in the mirror worrying about how you look? Remember that God made all people in His own image—including you! He made each one of us unique and loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. Instead of comparing yourself to others, remember that you’re created in God’s image and loved by Him, and that makes you truly special. Today's Key Verse: So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. Genesis 1:27 (ERV) Today's Key Thought: You are made in God’s image

Read: Acts 11:27-30 Caden tugged his mom’s sleeve in the church hallway. “I need some money for our offering.” “Okay,” Mom said, opening her purse. Caden took the money she held out and dashed off to class. “I’m guessing many of you get your offering money from your parents,” Mrs. Hallman said after the class had taken the offering. “I have a suggestion. For the next month, why don’t you only put your own money in the offering? Missionaries will be using it to set up a school. You’ll be giving your money to the Lord so those kids can hear about Jesus.” Caden didn’t like the idea of giving away his own money. “I don’t see what difference it makes whether we give the money ourselves or our parents help us,” he said on the way home from church. “The difference is you don’t get any real joy out of giving to the Lord when the gift doesn’t cost you anything,” Mom said. “Maybe not, but I don’t get much money, and I’ve got to save up for a new bike.” “God doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have,” Mom said. “No matter how little we have to give, God can use it to bless others in big ways. But giving still requires sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His life for us, and we give to Him out of gratitude for all He’s given us. Maybe you can give some of the money you’ve already saved for a new bike—and if you want to give more, you could find ways to earn extra money. Pray about it and ask God what you should do.” Caden prayed about it and decided to give a portion of his bike money to the missionaries. Then, over the next few weeks, he was surprised at how many extra jobs he was able to pick up. He mowed lawns for neighbors and cleaned his grandma’s basement. He actually enjoyed earning money for the missionary offering. “When I’m working for extra money, I pretend I’m a missionary and that I’m doing the work so people can hear about Jesus,” Caden told his mom one day. “Pretend?” Mom smiled. “It isn’t pretend, Caden. Even though you’re not in a far-off place, God is using the work you’re doing to help more people come to Jesus!” –Bernard Palmer How about you? Do you truly give to God, or do you just pass along someone else’s gifts? Remember that giving always costs something. When God gave us His Son, it cost Jesus His life. Ask God to show you how you can give to Him. Maybe it’s by giving your own money or by donating your things or time to show others His love. Whatever it is, give out of gratitude for all He’s done for you. Today's Key Verse: I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. 2 Samuel 24:24 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Give to God

Read: Psalm 61:1-8 Reid sighed happily at the sound of a mountain stream trickling nearby. “I sure love hiking!” he said. “Me too!” said his twin sister, Nicole. “It’s so pretty out here today!” “Yeah,” said Reid. “I’m so glad school is over for the summer so we can do this again!” “Hey, you two, don’t get too far ahead!” Dad called from further down the mountain. The twins decided to rest and wait for their parents. “Hey, look at that,” Nicole said, pointing to a nearby tree branch. “What’s going on up here?” Mom asked as she and Dad came up the path and sat down on a log. “There’s a trail of ants walking on that branch,” said Reid. Nicole squinted to get a better look. “Why are they all following that ant in front? Why don’t they just walk wherever they want to?” “They’re following the leader,” Dad explained. “He’s probably leading them to some food he discovered.” He thought for a moment. “We’re a lot like ants.” Reid and Nicole looked at each other, confused. “How are we like ants?” Reid asked. “Well,” said Dad, “these ants are trusting their leader to guide them safely, and they go wherever he goes. We need to make sure we’re following our leader with the same trust and obedience.” “You’re talking about Jesus, aren’t you?” said Nicole. “That’s right!” said Dad. “He’s our leader. He died for our sins and rose from the dead to save us, and we need to have faith in Him and follow and obey Him in everything we do.” Mom nodded. “We might be tempted to follow people or chase after things that can lead us away from God and what He tells us in the Bible. But Jesus is the only right path for our lives.” “I don’t want to follow the wrong crowd,” Reid said. “Me neither,” said Nicole. “I want to follow Jesus!” Mom beamed. “I’m very glad to hear you say that.” She stood up. “Let’s finish this hike so we can get some food of our own.” “I know the way to the top,” Reid said, running to the path. “Follow me!” Nicole laughed. “Okay, but only because I know you follow Jesus!” –Elena Ketner How about you? Do you follow Jesus? Do you trust and obey Him? It may seem hard to follow Him when you’re tempted to chase after what the world has to offer or what other people think of you, but Jesus is a good leader who loves you and will lead you on the right path. John 14:6 says He is the way, the truth, and the life. Trust and follow Him. Today's Key Verse: Lead me in the right path, O Lord…Make your way plain for me to follow. Psalm 5:8 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Follow Jesus

Read: 1 Peter 3:3-4 Luca’s grandfather patted the tire of the four-wheeler he had purchased. “I found this quad online and got a good deal on it,” he said with a smile. Luca wasn’t so sure. The fenders were dented, and the seat had a tear in it. The rack behind the seat was bent, and a headlight was cracked. “It doesn’t look very good,” he said. “Why didn’t you buy a new quad, Grandpa?” “Well, this was much less expensive than a new one, and the engine is in excellent running condition. It also gives us something to work on together. It just needs a little body work, that’s all. We’ll get it all fixed up. You’ll see.” Luca wasn’t convinced. “It looks awfully banged-up to me,” he said as he began to polish a black helmet that had come with the four-wheeler. “You’ve got to learn to see beyond outward appearances,” said Grandpa. “Put on that helmet and hop on. I’ll give you a ride.” Luca slid on behind his grandfather. After a drive through the field across the road, Luca was impressed with the quiet, steady hum of the dented-up quad. “This runs really well!” he said. “Just goes to show that you should never judge things by appearance alone—and that includes people,” said Grandpa. “I didn’t like the looks of this quad myself when I first saw it. But when I heard it run, it was music to my ears!” He grinned. “Know any people like that?” “Well, Aaron, I guess,” Luca replied. “He’s new in my class, and when I first saw him I thought he’d be mean. But we started talking, and now we’re friends.” “We need to see people like God does,” said Grandpa. “He doesn’t judge us by the way we look. He sees way beyond that. He sees what’s in our hearts and what we can become—just like we see what this beat-up quad can become. Jesus can make anyone a new person. He made us new people when we trusted in Him, and He wants us to treat everyone in a way that shows them His love.” “You’re right, Grandpa,” Luca said. “You’re always right!” Grandpa laughed. “You go on inside now and tell that to your grandma!” –Vicki Reinhardt How about you? Do you judge people by the way they look? We often focus on appearance when we look at others, but not God. He looks at our hearts. You can’t see inside hearts like He does, but you can look past a person’s outward appearance and see how much they’re loved by Jesus. Treat everyone in a way that shows them His love. You might even end up with a new friend! Today's Key Verse: People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) Today's Key Thought: Look beyond looks

Read: Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 2:1-4 Lisbeth was shocked at the amount of noise that hit her ears when she stepped into the animal shelter behind her best friend. She had never heard so much barking before. “It’s not always like this,” Jenna said. She had been volunteering for a long time, but this was the first time Lisbeth had come with her and her mom. They walked down a hallway lined with cages, and it seemed like every dog was barking. Lisbeth smiled when she saw one dog just lying in her cage. She didn’t look upset or sick or anything like that; she just looked peaceful, like she really wasn’t bothered by all the noise the other dogs were making. “Do you remember what the Bible says about being peaceful?” Jenna’s mom shouted to be heard above the dogs. “It says we should do our part to live in peace with others, even if the world around us isn’t peaceful. I think Miss Ruby got the message.” She pointed toward the dog Lisbeth had noticed. “But we have something she doesn’t,” Jenna’s mom continued. “Since we belong to Jesus, we have His peace and love in our hearts. That’s what allows us to be truly peaceful.” They spent time playing with the dogs and giving them love, then Lisbeth was dropped off at her house. As she walked up to the door, she could hear shouting. Ever since her mom remarried, the house was constantly noisy. Lisbeth opened the front door. Her older brother was arguing with one of their stepbrothers. Her twin sisters were fighting over a doll. One of her stepsisters was screaming. She covered her ears. There were times when Lisbeth would just join in with everyone else. When everyone else was upset, it was hard not to be mad too. But today she wanted to try something different. Lisbeth walked over to her younger stepbrother and sat down beside him. He wasn’t joining in with all the screaming, but he didn’t look happy either. “Do you want to play a game?” Lisbeth asked. “I’ll play with you.” “Outside?” Darren asked, his eyes wide as he looked around the room. Lisbeth laughed. “Sure.” She wanted to help bring peace to their home, but she didn’t have to stay right in the chaos in order to do that. –Emily Acker How about you? When everyone around you is getting loud and grumpy, do you join in? Or do you try to be the one peaceful person in the room? If you know Jesus as your Savior, you can treat others in a peaceful, loving way, even when tempers flare and no one agrees. Trust Him to help you do what you can to keep the peace. Is there anything you can do—with God’s help—to make your home more peaceful? Today's Key Verse: If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (CSB) Today's Key Thought: Live a peaceful life

Read: Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 20:28 “Jordan, could you please put Athena’s toys away while I give her a bath?” called Mom as she carried Jordan’s little sister to the bathroom. Jordan groaned. He was right in the middle of a video game. He slammed his controller down and stomped into his baby sister’s room. “This is so unfair!” he said as he threw Athena’s toys into the toybox. “I didn’t make this mess. It’s not my job!” After soccer practice the next day, Coach handed Jordan a big bag of dirty laundry. It was Jordan’s turn to take the soccer uniforms home to be washed. Jordan dumped the bag of filthy clothes in the kitchen. “Hang on a minute,” said Mom. “What’s all this?” Jordan was confused. Mom had washed the soccer uniforms countless times before. “It’s our turn to wash the uniforms,” he replied. Mom tossed the bag back at Jordan. “Well, I don’t play soccer, so why should I wash them? It’s not my job!” All of a sudden, Jordan’s own words came back to him. “But I can’t wash these!” he cried. “I don’t know how!” Dad got up from his chair, a wry smile on his face. “Well then, I’ll show you!” Dad patiently showed Jordan how to operate the washing machine. “You know, families should help one another, Jordan, and sometimes that means cleaning up someone else’s mess.” Jordan sighed. “But cleaning up after Athena is hard!” “Well, so is going to work every single day,” said Dad. Jordan had never thought about that before. “And how about Mom?” Dad continued. “She changes dirty diapers. She washes our clothes and cleans up after people all the time. Imagine if she stopped doing all those things because they weren’t her job?” Jordan laughed. “We’d all stink!” Dad grinned. “It reminds me of what Jesus did to save us. He came to earth and cleaned up the great big mess of sin we had made. Jesus never sinned. Not once. But He was willing to die on the cross so our sins could be forgiven. I’m so thankful He saved me and made me clean!” “Me too!” Jordan said as he dumped the dirty uniforms into the washing machine. –Angela Jelf How about you? Do you moan and complain when you’re asked to clean up a mess someone else made? Jesus loves us so much He was willing to save us from the biggest mess of all that none of us were able to clean up—sin. When we trust in Him, He removes our filthy rags of sin and clothes us in garments as white as snow. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Today's Key Verse: He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:5 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Jesus makes us clean

Read: Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26; Philippians 4:4-8 "I hate that we don’t have money to do stuff!” Don wailed when he saw his mom in the garden. It was the last day of school, a day he’d looked forward to, but he came home pouting. He sat down beside Mom in a huff. “I love summer, but I hate hearing about all the cool stuff my friends get to do. One of them’s even going to Japan, and his hotel room has an indoor slide! Before they could ask me what I’ll be doing, I ran home. I feel like such a loser!” Mom kept pulling weeds, then suddenly gripped Don’s arm, looking pale. “Mom! Are you okay?” Don asked, alarmed. “I’m just a bit woozy,” she whispered, rubbing her belly. She was pregnant and needed daily injections to protect the baby. After a moment, she smiled as color returned to her face. “How can you be so happy? You’re sick every day!” Don said. Mom gestured around her in response. “What do you see in my garden?” “Weeds!” Don muttered, noticing how they kept cropping up. “They’re so irritating!” “Besides the weeds, what else?” “I see…uh…flowers. Oh, they’re finally blooming!” Don passed by the garden every day but hardly noticed the colorful blooms. “That’s like life,” Mom explained. “When we focus only on the weeds, we miss the other beautiful things around us.” She rubbed her bulging belly. “It’s the same with my pregnancy. If I focus on the discomfort, I’d lose sight of the miracle growing inside me.” She tapped Don’s chest. “Our heart is like a garden, Don. If you count the blessings you have in Jesus, your heart will be full of flowers. He saved you from sin and has given you eternal life, and He shows His love to you in so many ways each day. Because of Him, you can rejoice. When you do, you’ll be surprised to find yourself being happy for others and their own triumphs. But if you only focus on what they have that you don’t, then jealousy will choke out whatever happiness is in your heart.” Don sat in thoughtful silence. Finally, he turned to his mom and grinned. “Maybe I’ll help you with the weeding this summer! I’ll take out the pesky stuff and make this garden even better!” Mom laughed. “That’s the spirit!” –Kristin Lim How about you? Do you compare yourself to friends and feel like they have it better? Maybe they get the latest gadgets or go on exciting trips while you stay home. Don’t let jealousy poison your heart. Focus on the gifts God has given you. The greatest gift of all is Jesus, who died for us so we could have eternal life. No earthly treasure can compare to Him! Today's key verse: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) Today's key thought: Count your blessings and rejoice

Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 When he got home from school, Jason found his mom in the laundry room. “How was your day?” Mom asked as she looked up from a shirt she was ironing. “Terrible!” said Jason. “I failed a math test and have to take it over again. Then I found out my favorite teacher is moving away. And then I accidentally knocked down the principal’s daughter!” “Knocked her down? How did that happen?” “I came around a corner really fast and ran right into her,” Jason said. “I apologized, but she’s probably still mad.” “I’m sure she knows you didn’t do it on purpose,” Mom said. Jason sighed. “I doubt it. She probably told all her friends what a loser I am.” Jason looked at the shirt Mom was ironing. “That’s my shirt for your cousin’s wedding this weekend, isn’t it?” “That’s right.” The doorbell rang, and Mom handed him the partially ironed shirt. “Here. Why don’t you finish ironing it while I answer the door?” When Mom returned, Jason had just finished pressing the shirt. He held it up. “Look at this,” he said. “It’s wrinkle-free!” Mom nodded. “The heat and pressure of the iron took the wrinkles right out.” She turned off the iron and unplugged it. “Sometimes that’s how God gets the wrinkles out of us too.” “Wrinkles?” Jason rubbed his forehead. “I don’t have wrinkles yet.” Mom laughed. “I’m thinking of wrinkles in the ways we think and act—things like impatience, anger, and self-pity, just to name a few. God sometimes uses the heat and pressure of difficulties in our lives to iron them out.” “So you think God is using the stuff that happened to me today to make me more patient and not feel sorry for myself so I can be wrinkle-free?” “Well, we’ll never be wrinkle-free until we get to heaven—we’ll always have things we struggle with. But He does use the things that happen in our lives—even things we don’t like—to make us more like Jesus and help us love and care for others. And He’s always with us in the troubles we face too.” Jason nodded. “I guess I’d better go study for that math test, huh?” “Yes,” Mom said. “At least you’re getting another chance to iron that out!” –Barabara J. Westberg How about you? Do you ever feel pressured by what’s going on in your life? God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to press the wrinkles out of us. It may be uncomfortable for a while, but He’s doing it to make us more like Jesus. Be patient as He teaches you to trust Him and show His love to others. He promises to be with you as He irons the wrinkles out of your life. Today's key verse: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) Today's key thought: Patiently endure difficulties