Read: John 6:5-13; Colossians 3:23-24
“I wish I could help!” Lana said as she watched her older brother and sister get ready for the high school service project. They were going to pass out food at the church’s Thanksgiving food drive.
“You did help,” Mom told Lana. “You took cans of food to your Sunday school class—cans you bought yourself by doing extra chores around the house.”
Lana frowned. “That’s not a big deal.”
“Yes, it is,” said Dad. “If nobody donated food, Isaiah and Natalie wouldn’t have anything to pass out.”
Lana rode along when Dad took Isaiah and Natalie to church that afternoon. “Looks like they’re knocking the old Paulson house down,” Dad said as they drove down the street. “I knew someone bought the place and that it needed repair. I wonder why they don’t just fix it up.”
“I heard that it was full of termites,” said Isaiah. “I guess it was so bad they couldn’t do anything with it.”
“What are termites?” asked Lana.
“Termites are insects,” Natalie told her. “They kind of look like ants.”
“Ants?” Lana looked at the house as they drove by. “They’re taking down that whole building just because of tiny little ants?”
“Termites are about the size of ants, but they eat wood,” Dad explained. “When a lot of them eat at a building for a long time, they ruin the beams that support the building and it becomes unsafe.”
“Yeah, and it can cost more to fix it than to tear it down and start over,” said Isaiah.
“Wow,” said Lana. “I didn’t know something so small could destroy something so big.”
“Yes, small things can make a big difference,” said Dad. “And that applies to good things too—like cans of food.” He smiled at Lana. “I know you don’t think donating cans was a big deal, but it’s a big deal to Jesus. You did it for Him out of the love He’s put in your heart. And when we do something for Jesus—no matter how small—He uses our efforts to do big things. Tiny termites can destroy a house, but the small things we do for Jesus do the opposite. He uses them to build His kingdom and show people how much He loves them.”
–Hazel W. Marett
How about you? Do you think the ways you help are so small that they don’t really matter? In today’s Bible passage, five loaves and two fish didn’t sound like much, but a little boy gave them to Jesus anyway—and Jesus used them to do something huge that blessed many people. When you do something for Jesus, He’ll bless what you do for Him. No effort is too small.
Today's Key Verse: Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart…You are working for the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NLV)
Today's Key Thought: Small efforts matter to Jesus
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Foursquare Fun
Read: Ephesians 4:30-32; 1 John 1:9
Mia loved playing foursquare. Every day at recess, she was first to grab the big rubber ball and station herself inside the “king” square of the painted foursquare grid.
Thwump! The ball ricocheted out of Tatiana’s square and rolled into the bushes. “You’re out!” called Mia gleefully. “And I’m still in.” Tatiana exited the square.
Womp! The ball bounced into Jonah’s square and flew out before he could hit it to another player. Jonah hung his head and walked to the back of the line.
“I won again!” sang Mia.
A new kid joined the game. Someone Mia didn’t recognize. Mia skillfully palmed the ball and it spun into his square. Would he be able to hit it back?
“Oooh! A spinner!” called Emilie.
Mia held her breath as she waited. The new boy tapped the ball back to her so gently that she lunged to reach it. She missed and flew forward, scraping both knees.
“No fair!” Mia screeched. She grabbed the foursquare ball and threw it as hard as she could. All her friends watched as the ball hit a sharp rock and popped.
Tears filled Mia’s eyes, and she ran.
The recess monitor, Mrs. Goldspeed, found Mia sitting on the curb, head in her arms. “What happened, honey?”
“I…I scraped my knees,” Mia muttered.
“Hmm. Does that have anything to do with this broken ball?” Mrs. Goldspeed held up a piece of rubber folded over her arm like a worn-out rag.
“Well,” hedged Mia. She sighed. “I got mad, because I didn’t win.”
“You know, this deflated ball is like us when we sin,” said Mrs. Goldspeed. “When we are broken, we need God to make us new.” She pulled out a patch and pump. “I can fix this foursquare ball, just like God can fix your heart. Because Jesus died for our sins, we can pray and ask Him to forgive us whenever we need to and He will give us a fresh start.”
Mia bowed her head. “Dear God, I’m sorry for losing my temper. Help me to be kind to others.” She felt clean-hearted and brand new.
When Mia returned to the foursquare game, she grinned to herself. Thank you, God, for mending me just like this patched-up rubber ball.
–Wendy Lynne Smith
How about you? Have you ever felt like a deflated rubber ball—broken because of your sin? The good news is that God wants to restore you and fill you up with His love. You can ask for forgiveness when needed and He will make you like new. Then trust Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and empower you to be kind to others.
Today's Key Verse: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
Today's Key Thought: God forgives and restores
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Carmen’s Cupcake
Read: Romans 3:21-28
“I have a surprise for you today!” Mom said as Carmen walked into the kitchen.
“What, Mom?” Carmen sat down to a bowl of cereal. “I know about my birthday dinner tonight with Grandma and Papa. That’s not a surprise.”
“This one’s different. I’ll tell you when you get home from school. Hurry with your breakfast so I can walk you to your bus stop on my way to work.”
All day Carmen wondered about Mom’s surprise. When she climbed the steps to her apartment after school that afternoon, Mom was waiting for her at the door. She took Carmen’s bookbag and dropped it in the living room. “Let’s go, mija!”
As they walked down the street, Carmen chatted about gym class. Then Mom stopped in front of a fancy bakery, one Carmen had wanted to visit.
“We’re getting something here?” Carmen asked.
“That’s my surprise! I signed you up for their birthday rewards, so today you get a free cupcake.”
Carmen laughed. “Really?”
Mom nodded. “Let’s go in!”
“Oh, Mom, it smells just like I imagined—even better!” Carmen breathed in the aroma of delicious baked goods. After choosing a chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting, she and her mother sat down by the windows.
“What a great surprise, Mom! Something so tasty—and it’s free!” Carmen wiped gooey icing from her mouth.
“Does it remind you of something we heard at church last week? About receiving something wonderful for free?” Mom asked.
“Oh yeah! When we trust Jesus to save us and make us God’s children, we get forgiveness for our sins. We also get eternal life with Him…so much good stuff!”
Mom smiled. “Yes, and just like this cupcake, we didn’t have to pay for it. We didn’t have to work to earn God’s love either.”
“Just like I didn’t do anything to earn this cupcake,” said Carmen.
“Right,” answered Mom. “Jesus paid the price so we could be God’s sons and daughters, mija. He died for our sins and rose from the dead to make us part of His family—that’s how much He loves us. We have a lot to celebrate on your birthday—and every day!”
–Allison Wilson Lee
How about you? Have you wondered if you could ever be good enough to receive God’s perfect love? God tells us in the Bible that we don’t need to earn His love or forgiveness—and we could never do that anyway. God loves us so much that He offers us a relationship with Him, along with forgiveness of our sins, as a free gift paid for by Jesus. Receive this free gift today by trusting in Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)
Today's Key Verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Today's Key Thought: God’s love is a free gift
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Puzzling Pieces
Read: Psalm 37:23-28
Weston shuffled through the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. “Wow, I’ve never tried to do a puzzle with so many pieces before!”
“I know it looks hard, but I’m sure you can do it,” said Mom. “Want some help? I could turn the pieces right side up for you.”
“Okay,” Weston said. “I’ll work on the barn.” He started to sift through the jumbled pile, looking for red pieces.
“Weston, do you know what this jigsaw puzzle reminds me of?” Mom asked as she turned pieces over.
“Uh, my room, I guess,” Weston said with a smile. “A big mess!”
Mom laughed. “It does look a lot like the clutter I sometimes see in there, but I had something else in mind—our lives. Sometimes life is puzzling to us. It’s confusing and filled with overwhelming problems, and we can’t see how the pieces can possibly fit together. But God has a plan and purpose for everything that happens. He knows all the pieces will fit perfectly, even when we can’t see how.”
“You mean like the time I didn’t make the Parkside soccer team?” Weston asked.
“Right,” Mom said. “Many of your friends made the team, and you were so disappointed. You didn’t see how that piece of your life fit at all. You even said you might as well give up playing soccer.”
“Yeah, but then Mr. Singh called,” Weston said. “He was coaching the Greenwood team and asked if I’d like to play the goalie position.”
Mom nodded. “So you joined that team, and you really liked it and had a great time.”
“Yeah,” Weston said. “It was so much fun!”
“I think God wanted you on Mr. Singh’s team so we could get to know his whole family,” Mom said. “They accepted our invitation to come to a program at church and heard about Jesus.” She glanced at the puzzle pieces Weston was working on. “Hey, that barn’s really coming together!” She handed him another red puzzle piece. “Just like you’re fitting those pieces together into a barn, God fits all the pieces of our lives together into something good that points to Jesus and His love for us.”
–Annette S. Bury
How about you? Are you going through something difficult or confusing right now? Does your life look like a jumbled mess that will never fit together? We often can’t see or understand how things that are sad or painful could possibly be good. Trust God. He has a purpose for all the things that happen in your life. He promises to fit them together into something good that shows you belong to Jesus.
Today's Key Verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (CSB)
Today's Key Thought: God has a purpose for everything
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School Pictures
Read: Colossians 3:14-17
“What do you think of this one?” Sofie asked her older sister. Kara was helping her choose an outfit to wear for her school pictures the next day.
“Why don’t you pick something simpler?” Kara suggested. “Remember, Mom said you have to pick clothes without too bold of a pattern so they will look good in the picture.”
Sofie slid the shirt on the hanger and hung it back up in her closet. “Okay.”
“So, how was Sunday school this morning?” Kara asked as she searched through the clothes hanging in Sofie’s closet.
Sofie shrugged. “All right, I guess. I just wish it was more exciting.”
Kara frowned. “I thought you enjoyed Sunday school.”
“I do. I just wish there was more time for games and playing with my friends. Maybe then we would have more kids come to church!”
“I know it can be hard to sit,” Kara said. “And the teachers do their best to make the lessons fun. But sometimes you can get so focused on playing games and seeing your friends that you miss what God wants to teach you.”
“What do you mean?” Sofie asked.
“Well, it’s like your school pictures. If you wear a shirt with a busy pattern, the people who see the picture will focus on your clothes instead of being focused on your beautiful smile.”
“So is playing games with my friends bad?”
Kara pulled another shirt, a pale blue one, out of the closet. “No. It just shouldn’t distract you from the real reason we go to church—to worship Jesus with other Christians and learn about what He tells us in the Bible.” She held the shirt up against Sofie, studying it. “See? It’s like this shirt. It brings out the blue in your eyes without distracting people from what they’re supposed to be looking at.”
“My face!” Sofie smiled. “I get it. We go to church to worship and learn about Jesus, and I should be focusing on Him.” She took the blue shirt from Kara. “You know what? I think I like this one.”
Kara grinned. “Just remember, the most important thing is to wear a smile!”
–Jessica Kleeberger
How about you? What do you focus on when you go to church? It can be fun to play games, do crafts, and visit with friends, but we shouldn’t let that distract us from the real reason we go to church—to learn about Jesus and worship Him. Praying, singing songs, and reading the Bible are all ways we worship Jesus and learn more about Him together. When you go to church, focus on Him.
Today's Key Verse: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Today's Key Thought: Focus on Jesus at church
About Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families
Keys for Kids is a daily storytelling show based on the daily Keys for Kids children's devotional. Hosted by Zach, this podcast combines Scripture readings with captivating stories that illustrate essential Biblical principles. With Zach's creative voices bringing characters to life, listeners embark on a faith-filled journey. Tune in to discover the keys to growing in faith and understanding God's love. Produced by Keys for Kids Ministries, this podcast is a treasure trove to help young hearts grow closer to God.
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