CBH Ministries - Keys for Kids

"I told Pastor Blake we'd be glad to have the Whitlocks stay with us," said Mom on the way home from church. "They'll be here next Saturday." "You did?" asked Chelsea. She thought about it. "That's good news and bad news," she decided. "It's good news because it's fun to talk with missionaries, but it's bad news because I'll have to clean my room." Chelsea's room was used for the guest room whenever the family had overnight company. "Wow! Cleaning your room will take a lo-o-ong time," teased her brother Chris. The following week, Chelsea worked very hard to get her room ready. After school each day, she spent some time cleaning her closet, dresser drawers, and desk. On Saturday morning, her mother helped put clean sheets on the bed, and they washed the windows. "Can you think of anything else to make your guests comfortable?" asked Mom. "Um . . . flowers!" exclaimed Chelsea, so she went outside and picked a bouquet. She also set out a candle for the guests to enjoy, and she used her markers to make a "Welcome to our home" sign. "My room is ready!" she declared happily. Soon after supper, the Whitlocks arrived, and they spent the next three days in Chelsea's home. She enjoyed talking with them--and after they were gone, she found they had left her something special. On her bed was a note addressed to her, along with a small package. Chelsea picked up the note and read it aloud. "Thank you for your hospitality. It's a good habit to learn early in life, and you have a special gift for making guests feel welcome. God bless you!" Opening the package, she found a beautiful necklace that had been made in Africa. Chelsea quickly put on the necklace and hurried to show the rest of the family. "Isn't this pretty?" she asked. "I love it." "Cool! Next time I think I'll have them stay in my room!" exclaimed Chris, again teasing his sister. Chelsea grinned at him. "I don't think this necklace would look very good on you," she retorted. After a moment, she added, "It was fun having them here. It was worth all the work, even without the necklace." How About You? Do you cheerfully tackle extra work required when your parents have guests? The next time company is coming, remember that God wants you to welcome guests and make them feel comfortable. You may not have to give up your room, but you can demonstrate God's love by preparing for their arrival and meeting their needs whenever possible. Today's Key Verse: Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (Romans 12:13) Today's Key Thought: Show hospitality

Mr. Brock's van was packed full of kids--his own children plus several of their friends. The noise level in the car was at its usual high pitch as he drove them to church for Bible club. Mr. Brock good-naturedly let them chatter until he pulled onto Route 40. "Okay, kids," he said then, "I'm going to ask you to settle down and be quiet for the next few miles. The road is under construction here, and driving needs my complete concentration." "Your dad says that every week," Mandy whispered to Jake. "Well, it's not easy driving through here," Jake defended his dad. For a while the kids were quiet. Then one of the boys playfully punched another boy, who punched him back. Others joined the fun and soon nearly everyone was taking part in the tussle. Mr. Brock glanced in the rearview mirror. "Settle down," he ordered as he put his foot on the brake and began to pull off to the side of the road. Before Mr. Brock could stop, a book went flying through the car, hitting him on the back of the head. The steering wheel jerked, and the van gave a crazy turn back toward the traffic lane. "Watch out!" someone screamed. Mr. Brock gripped the wheel and managed to stop. "Thank You, Lord," he breathed. Then he turned and solemnly talked to the children about how important it was for them to sit quietly. When the group arrived at the church, the kids piled out. Their teacher soon heard all about what had happened. She shook her head. "Driving a car full of boys and girls is a huge responsibility," said Mrs. Grady. "Mr. Brock accepts it as a ministry--a way to serve God. You can share with him in that ministry." "We can?" asked one of the girls. "How?" "By sitting quietly," said Mrs. Grady. "One of the characteristics a maturing young person needs to develop is self-control. In your situation, that involves talking softly and not fighting or yelling while Mr. Brock is driving. Why not help him in his ministry by encouraging each other to show self-control and be quiet? Will you do that?" Solemnly, many of the kids nodded. How About You? Do you ride on a school bus? Or a church bus? Do your parents or a friend's parents drive you different places? How do you act? Are you polite, or do you goof off, fight, or yell? The Bible says to be courteous. That means to be polite--and it includes being polite when you're riding in a vehicle. It's difficult to drive when kids are noisy, so courteous behavior in a bus or car involves using self-control and talking quietly. Encourage other riders to obey God in that way, too. Today's Key Verse: Love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. (1 Peter 3:8) Today's Key Thought: Be a courteous passenger

"What do you have in there, Tammy?" Sarah asked. Tammy smiled as she placed a small cardboard box in her school desk. "An art project Grandma helped me with at home," she replied. "I told Mrs. Sims about it, and she said to bring it in to show the class. You'll see it pretty soon." When Mrs. Sims asked her to come up and share the project, Tammy took the box out of her desk, carried it to the front of the room, and set it on the table. She opened the lid and carefully lifted out an object. "This is a chrysalis," she said, holding it up. "I made it out of paper mache." "It sure is ugly!" one of the boys called out. "Well, they are ugly," replied Tammy, "but you haven't seen all of my project yet." She carefully opened the underside of the chrysalis and brought out a tiny, white and yellow, ceramic butterfly. "Hey! Cool! That's really pretty!" Daisy, a new class member, exclaimed. "Nice job, Tammy," Miss Sims approved after Tammy had explained how she made it. Tammy smiled as she returned to her seat. That afternoon Sarah and Tammy walked home together. "What do you think of the new girl in our class?" Sarah asked. "Daisy?" Tammy shrugged. "She seems pretty nice. I talked to her a little bit at recess." "She sure dresses funny," observed Sarah, "and those glasses she wears are a weird shape. They make her look goofy, don't you think?" Tammy frowned. "Well . . . sort of. But I guess it's like the lesson we had in Sunday school class last week. We learned that God cares about people's hearts, not the way they look on the outside. Remember? We talked about not judging people by their clothes or skin color or hair because those aren't the most important things." "I . . . ah, I forgot," murmured Sarah. "But you know what? Your art project is a reminder of that. The paper chrysalis isn't pretty, but the little butterfly inside it is." "Yeah," Tammy agreed, "just like in nature. A real chrysalis isn't pretty, but a beautiful butterfly develops inside it." Sarah grinned and nodded. "I'm gonna remember that lesson and look for what God sees instead of looking at what people wear," she said. How About You? How do you judge people? By their clothes? By how they fix their hair? That's not the way God judges, nor the way He wants you to judge others. When you meet new kids, talk with them and get to know them. Learn what hobbies enjoy, what they like and don't like, what things they value. Don't make hasty judgments. Today's Key Verse: Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24) Today's Key Thought: Don't judge by outer appearance

Jeff loved spending summer vacation with his cousin Rob--except for the time each evening when Uncle Paul called them together for family devotions. "You don't really believe all that religious stuff, do you?" Jeff asked Rob one night from the bed across the room. "Sure I do--but it's not 'religious stuff'!" replied Rob. "It's what the Bible says." "How can you believe some of those Bible stories--like about men walking in fire and not being burned or crossing a sea and not getting wet," mocked Jeff. "They're true stories," insisted Rob. "They really happened." Jeff shrugged and turned over to go to sleep. The next day, Uncle Paul took the boys canoeing. As Aunt Mary drove them to the river, Rob read a bumper sticker aloud: "If God said it, I believe it, and it's so." "It should just say, 'If God said it, it's so,'" commented Uncle Paul. "What God said is so, whether I believe it or not." Aunt Mary and Rob nodded, but Jeff acted as if he hadn't heard. "Okay, guys. Have fun, and I'll pick you up at Potters' Landing," said Aunt Mary when they reached the canoe launch site. Soon Uncle Paul and the boys were floating downstream. "This water's not very deep," said Jeff. "I can see the bottom." Uncle Paul chuckled. "It's deeper than it looks, Jeff," he said. "I'm sure it's over your head." "Na-a-ah. I don't believe it," scoffed Jeff. "Duck!" Rob exclaimed suddenly as they floated under a low-hanging branch. They all ducked, but the canoe was thrown off-balance and tipped, spilling them into the water. They came up spitting and sputtering--and laughing. "Stand up, Jeff," called Rob. "I can't!" Jeff called back. "I can't touch the bottom." "Let's get this canoe right side up," said Uncle Paul. They all helped, and soon they were again paddling downstream. "That water was deeper than I thought," admitted Jeff. "It was deep whether you believed it or not, wasn't it?" observed Uncle Paul. "Yeah, Jeff. Not believing it didn't change the fact," Rob added. "The same is true of the Bible." Jeff grinned sheepishly as Rob repeated, "If God said it, it's so!" How About You? Do you believe what God says in the Bible--all of it? Do you believe what it says about Jesus, God's Son? About you?It says you are a sinner, but Jesus died to take the punishment for you. God says if you do not believe on Jesus, you are "condemned already," but if you will believe, you are no longer condemned. Not believing the truth will not change it. Believe on Jesus. Ask Him to save you today. (See the ABCs of Salvation here: http://www.cbhministries.org/ForKids/ABCsofSalvation.aspx.) Today's Key Verse: Will . . . unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! (Romans 3:3-4) Today's Key Thought: God's Word is true--believe it

Nick felt a little nervous one Saturday afternoon as he was on his way to return books his dad had borrowed from Pastor Baker. Our family hasn't attended any church until lately, but now I have to talk with the pastor! he thought. What in the world can we talk about? Maybe he won't be home. Nick parked his bike in the pastor's driveway and slowly walked to the door. Timidly, he rang the bell. "Hey, there, Nick," Pastor Baker greeted, taking the books Nick handed him. "My wife just took some of her famous chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. Are you hungry? Come on in." Nick never could turn down a chocolate chip cookie, so he followed the pastor into the house. As he greeted Mrs. Baker in the kitchen, Nick heard the sound of a ball game on TV--the same game he had been watching back home. "Looks like the game is done,"observed Pastor Baker. "You watch baseball games?" Nick asked in surprise. Pastor Baker laughed. "Sure. I've been a baseball fan ever since I was your age." He picked up a small pail. "Since it's over, would you like to go out to the berry patch with me? I'm going to pick raspberries. Why not come along and pick some for your mom? Maybe she'll make a raspberry pie." "Sounds good," said Nick with a grin. And that's how he found himself in a berry patch, talking to Pastor Baker about school and ball games and all kinds of things. "I didn't know pastors did . . . ah . . . regular things," Nick said after they had talked a while. Pastor Baker grinned. "Some people seem to think pastors study and read the Bible all the time," he said. "I'm sure we study more than most people because we need to teach God's Word to the congregation. But we have to learn all those lessons ourselves, too. We're really just like anybody else." Nick nodded. He was thoughtful as he went home with a plastic bag full of berries a little later. The next Sunday, Nick listened to the sermon more attentively than usual. Knowing that Pastor Baker liked baseball and chocolate chip cookies and working in the garden made it easier to listen--and to learn. How About You? Have you wondered what a pastor does when he's not preaching? Ask him. He'll be glad to tell you. Have you ever thought about being a pastor or a church leader when you get older? It's an occupation the Lord calls a "good work." Pray for your pastor and other church leaders, and be willing and available if God calls you to serve in that way. Today's Key Verse: This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop (pastor), he desires a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1) Today's Key Thought: Know your pastor and pray for him

"Where are we going, Dad?" asked Kevin as his father turned a corner. "Wait and see," Dad said with a wink. "Madame Margarite, Spiritualist Reader," Kevin read aloud as they drove past a sign that had recently been put up on Main Street. "Have your fortune told here." "I'd like to know the future," said sixteen-year-old Leah. "Like . . . will Sean ask me to the youth banquet?" "Yeah, it would be cool to know what's going to happen," agreed Kevin. "I'd like to know if I'll pass my math test tomorrow." Dad shook his head. "Fortune tellers don't have the answers," he said. "The Bible warns against going to them. Besides, not knowing what will happen is often a blessing." "Why?" Leah and Kevin asked in unison. "Well . . . suppose we had known last Christmas that Grandma was going to have a stroke the next week. Would you have enjoyed the day?" Dad asked. "No, it would have been sad," answered Leah. "I read about one young man who was told he would die at age sixty-five," Dad said, "so he began living very dangerously--driving like a maniac and taking other kinds of crazy risks. At twenty-eight, he was killed in a car crash." "That wasn't very smart of him," said Kevin. "I think he should have known fortune tellers aren't always right." "Many people base their lives on the false predictions of fortune tellers or horoscopes," Dad replied. "That's very dangerous, not just because they're so often wrong, but because consulting them is something God forbids." "Would going to a fortune teller be walking 'in the counsel of the ungodly'?" asked Leah. "That's in a Psalm I learned." Dad nodded, and Leah squealed in delight as he pulled the car into a parking lot and she saw where they were. She pointed to the sign: Joe's Ice Cream Parlor--Grand Opening! Dad smiled. "You trusted me when you didn't know where I was taking you," he said, "and God wants us to trust Him like that. He wisely hides sorrows and hurts from us, and He lovingly provides many beautiful surprises." How About You? Do you remember the future is in God's control? He says not to worry about what you'll eat or drink or what you'll wear. Don't worry about where you'll live or what will happen in the future. God is the only one who knows. Messages from ouija boards, horoscopes, or any form of fortune telling are part of "the counsel of the ungodly." They are tools of Satan and are condemned by God. Don't trust in them. Instead, trust in the Lord God. He has everything under control. Today's Key Verse: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. (Psalm 1:1) Today's Key Thought: Trust God for the future

"Good morning, Brent," called Mr. Walker. "What have you got there?" "Oh, brother!" Brent muttered, then in a louder voice he answered, "Good morning, Mr. Walker. This is a porch swing." Brent continued spreading newspapers under the swing as his neighbor walked up the porch steps. "Looks a bit worn out," observed Mr. Walker. "You fixin' to paint it?" Brent nodded. "Mom got it at a garage sale. We're going to paint it white." "White, eh?" asked Mr. Walker. "I'd paint it green. It would match your house better." Brent sighed and took a deep breath. "Maybe, but Mom wants it white." "You gonna paint wearin' that good shirt, buddy? When I was your age, I only had two nice shirts to my name." Brent gritted his teeth as his neighbor continued. "We took care of things back in them days." As Brent dipped his brush into the paint, Mr. Walker grabbed his arm. "Wait a minute there! Where's your sandpaper? Look how that old paint's peelin'. You've gotta sand it down before you put on the new paint." Brent put his brush down. "'Scuse me," he muttered, and he hurried into the house. "Mom, I thought I'd better come in before I told that old man to mind his own business," exploded Brent. "Mr. Walker criticizes everything I do." He mimicked the old man. "You shouldn't wear that good shirt! You shouldn't paint without sanding." "Mr. Walker means well, Brent," said Mom, "and his advice is good. "That is a good shirt, so please change it--and you do need to sand off those rough spots, or the new paint won't last. I should have told you that." "Mom, you're criticizing, too," complained Brent. "Criticism isn't always bad, Brent," said Mom as she pulled a new package of sandpaper out of a drawer. "It's actually a little like this sandpaper. God can use criticism to knock rough spots off our characters. As we accept it, God can use it to make us wiser and more patient and kind." "It just seems like there's a nicer way to put things, you know?" Brent sighed, then smiled faintly. "Well, between you and Mr. Walker, I should become a pretty smooth character," he teased as he left to change his shirt. How About You? Has someone criticized you lately? It's not a pleasant feeling, but think about what was said. Was this one of the times God used someone to make you aware of a change you should make? Accept constructive criticism to knock off rough spots in your character. And the next time you criticize someone's actions or choices, try to say it kindly and patiently. Today's Key Verse: The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. (Proverbs 12:15) Today's Key Thought: Be willing to accept criticism

"Did you already fix that one?" asked Kyle, pointing at a large clock standing on the counter. He always enjoyed visiting Uncle Ramon's shop--especially when his uncle was working on a clock. "That one seems to be ticking all right," Kyle added. Uncle Ramon laughed pleasantly. "Yes," he agreed, "but that's all it's doing." Kyle looked at the clock more closely. "Oh--it doesn't have any hands on it," he remarked, feeling foolish for not having noticed that. "No, it doesn't." Uncle Ramon shook his head. "So even though the clock is ticking, it isn't doing its job and giving the correct time, is it?" "Not without the hands it isn't," Kyle agreed. "What happened to them?" "I have them right here, and I'll put them back on. But first I want to use this clock as an illustration when I teach my Sunday school class tomorrow," Uncle Ramon replied. Kyle grinned, remembering when his uncle had been his Sunday school teacher. "So you still use clocks as illustrations," said Kyle. "What does this one illustrate?" "Well, the inside of a clock has lots of different parts, and each one is needed," replied Uncle Ramon. "But you can have all of those inside parts clean and running good, and the clock still doesn't give you the time. Or . . ." Uncle Ramon held up the clock hands. "You can pick up the hands or face of the clock and look at them closely, but you won't learn the time of day that way, either." "To tell time, all the parts have to work together," said Kyle. He grinned. "I think I already know where you're going with this." Uncle Ramon smiled. "All the parts are important, but none can do the job alone," he said. "Both in clocks and in the Lord's work, all parts--or people--are needed." "Yep." Kyle nodded. "I thought you'd say that. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, janitors, musicians, nursery workers--or whatever--need to all work together. No one is the whole clock--no one is the only important person in a project." "That's right," said Uncle Ramon. "Each one has a special job to do, and to do the best job and accomplish the most, all are needed." How About You? Have you tried to be the "whole clock" in your youth group or Sunday school? Or do you go to the opposite extreme and decide that your small part in the group is not important? Just like it takes many parts to make a clock work, it takes many people to do the best possible job in God's work. Do your part faithfully, working together with all the other members of the group. Each one of you is needed, and each one is important. Today's Key Verse: You are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12:27) Today's Key Thought: Work together with others

I said I'd try to take a walk with Grandpa every day, thought Joanna, and I need to get started doing that soon. Maybe next week it will work out. But it was almost a month before Joanna finally began the daily walks with her grandfather. When she did, she was surprised at how much she enjoyed them. "I missed some good times by not joining you sooner," Joanna said one day. "I knew walking would be good for me and being with you would be fun, but it was so hard to get started." "I understand," Grandpa assured her. "I've had that kind of problem myself." "You didn't start walking as soon as you should have, either?" asked Joanna. Grandpa smiled. "Actually, I was thinking of something else I had trouble getting started at, and that's reading my Bible," he said. Joanna stopped and looked at her grandfather. "Reading your Bible?" she asked in disbelief. "You read it every day, don't you?" Grandpa nodded. "Ido now,"he said, "but years ago I had a hard time getting myself to read it regularly even though I knew I should. After I finally made it a part of each day's activities, it became natural and important to me--almost like breathing or eating." Joanna sighed. "I don't do very well at reading the Bible every day, either," she confessed. "I plan to--and I've even started more than once. But after a couple of days,I seem to forget." "How did you read it?" asked Grandpa. Joanna looked puzzled. "Did you read just a little at a time and think about how the verses applied to you? Or did you see how many chapters you could read at one time?" "Well, Peter wanted to read the whole Bible through in a year, and I didn't want him to get ahead of me," Joanna replied. "I tried to read as much as he did." "Try it again, but this time start slowly," Grandpa suggested. "When you decide to walk or jog regularly, you don't go three miles the first day. You start with a short distance, do it regularly, and add the miles gradually. Learning to read your Bible is something like that. Read just a little at first, read regularly, and gradually add more verses. " "Okay," Joanna agreed. "I'll read a few verses as soon as we get back home." How About You? Have you found it difficult to get in the habit of reading your Bible every day? Perhaps you started and kept it up for a few days and then quit.Don't give up. Try again. Why not begin with reading the short Scripture passage given with each Keys for Kids story? Read the verses first. Then after reading the story, read the Scripture passage again. Throughout the day, think about what God is saying to you. Make His Word a normal part of your everyday life. Today's Key Verse: Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97) Today's Key Thought: Read your Bible faithfully

There was much excitement as Jase and several family members watched a plane taxi to a stop. Jase's Uncle Dan and Aunt Mary were returning to the States after their first mission term. Everyone was eager to see their little son, Benjamin, who had been born in Africa. When the families finally got together, Jase stood back while the grownups greeted one another. Then Uncle Dan turned toward him. "And this must be little Jase," said Uncle Dan, "but you're not so little anymore, are you?" "I'm six years old," Jase proudly told Uncle Dan. Uncle Dan grinned. "Yes, you've grown up while we were gone," he said. "I see you have your father's eyes." Jase's mother pointed to the little boy Aunt Mary was holding. "And your son looks just like you, Dan," observed Mom. "Yes." Uncle Dan laughed joyfully. "He's my boy!" Driving home that night, Jase fired off a stream of questions. "How did I get Dad's eyes?" he asked. "And why does Benjamin look like Uncle Dan?" "Kids inherit certain things from their parents--like their size or the color of their hair and eyes," replied Jase's older sister Meg. "You inherited your dad's brown eyes, and Benjamin inherited his dad's curly hair. We can inherit other kinds of things, too--like a talent for music or an interest in building things. Right, Dad?" "Right. And something we all inherit is Adam's sinful nature," said Dad. "That's because we're all descendants of Adam, the first man God created, isn't it?" Meg asked. "And that's why we all sin?" Dad nodded. "Oh, that's not good, is it?" exclaimed Jase. He knew that to sin meant to do something wrong. "You're right," agreed Dad, "but because Jesus lived a perfect life and died to take the punishment for our sins, we can have them forgiven. If we accept Jesus as Savior, we become children of God. Then we're part of His family, and we become more and more like Him as we follow His teaching." Jase nodded. "And that's good," he said solemnly. "It's good to be like Jesus." How About You? Did you know you inherited a sinful nature? When you were born, you received that sinful nature through Adam, who is your ancestor. As a result, you sinned and you're part of Satan's family. You had no choice in that, but you can choose to have it changed. If you will accept Jesus as your Savior, you'll be part of God's family forever. You'll be made righteous--free from sin and guilt. If you haven't accepted Jesus, do so today. (See the ABCs of Salvation here: http://www.cbhministries.org/ForKids/ABCsofSalvation.aspx.) Today's Key Verse: By one Man's(Jesus') obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) Today's Key Thought: Be righteous through Jesus

"You may show this necklace to your class, Eva, but I don't want it damaged," said Mom. "It belonged to my Grandma Snead when she was a little girl. It's not worth a lot of money, but it's valuable to me, so be sure to take good care of it." "I will," promised Eva as she and her brother Jason left for school. When Eva and Jason came home that afternoon, Eva was all smiles as she pulled a music box from her backpack and wound it up. "Look what Nikki brought to school today," she squealed as a little bird on the top spun around while music played. "I let her borrow Grandma Snead's necklace, and she gave me the music box to play with tonight. We'll trade back tomorrow." Mom frowned. "Eva, you were given the responsibility of taking care of that necklace," she said sternly. "You should have known better than to trade." "Nikki will be careful," said Eva. "If she hurts it, I'm sure she'll replace it." Mom sighed. "It's not replaceable," she said as she went to answer the phone. When Mom returned, she was smiling. "That was Nikki's mother," said Mom. "She recognized that Grandma Snead's necklace is valuable to me and insists on coming right over to return it. You'll have to return the music box, too." Eva sighed. "Okay," she said. "You're like the French traders, Eva," declared Jason, who had been listening. "When they first came to America, they tricked the natives into trading furs and gold and silver for shiny little trinkets, like mirrors and worthless beads." "I didn't trick anybody," protested Eva. "Well, then . . . maybe you're the one who was tricked," suggested Jason. As Eva began to deny that, he added, "My Sunday school teacher says people get tricked all the time and don't even know it. He says Satan always likes to trick us into making poor trades." "Like what?" Eve asked. "Well, for example, Mr. Crane said we might trade spending time with God and learning about Him for time to watch TV or play video games or go to baseball games," Jason explained. "Good point," observed Mom. "We need to be careful to not be tricked into trading away the most valuable things we have--not even for other good things." How About You? Has Satan tricked you into making a poor trade? He'd like to give you television programs in exchange for time spent with God, dirty books in exchange for wholesome thoughts, cigarettes and drugs in exchange for good health. For your soul, he may even offer you popularity and the riches of the world. Don't let Satan fool you. Hold on to the valuable treasures God has given you. Today's Key Verse: What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Matthew 16:26) Today's Key Thought: Don't be tricked by Satan

"Oh, no!" moaned Kurt as he looked at the swimming pool. "There's green stuff in the water!" He and Kristen had the responsibility of putting chemicals into the pool when needed. But they hadn't done their job. "Now we'll have to put in extra chemicals to kill all that algae, and we won't be able to swim for a couple of days," added Kurt, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "And according to the weather report, they're going to be the hottest days we've had all summer!" Kristen sighed, fanning herself. "How did it get like this so fast? The water looked fine yesterday." "Have you been using the water tester every day?" asked Mom as she brought out a couple of ice cream cones. Kurt shook his head. "I guess we just thought we'd notice if it was getting dirty." "Yeah," said Kristen. "All that green stuff wasn't there yesterday." "You didn't see it yesterday," replied Mom, "but it was there all right. If you had used the water tester, you would have known that." Mom gazed thoughtfully at the unappealing algae. "The sooner you get the chemicals in there, the sooner it will be clean again," she added, returning to the house. That evening, Dad heard about the problem. "You didn't see the algae, so you didn't do anything about it," he said. "Does that remind anybody of so-called little sins we commit?" The kids--and even Mom--looked puzzled by his question. Dad smiled. "When unfriendly or unkind things we do seem very small to us, we hardly consider them to be sin at all. So we don't do anything about them. By the time we see how ugly they really are, we wonder why we didn't recognize them as sin in the first place. If we'd use our sin tester more often, we might avoid some of our problems by stopping them before they get so big." "Our sin tester!" exclaimed Kristen. "What do you mean?" Mom's eyes twinkled. "I'm sure Dad means the Bible," she said. "It helps us know when we're doing something wrong." "And then we can apply the chemicals--we can do what the Bible says and change our behavior before our actions get worse," suggested Kurt with a grin. How About You? Are you using the Bible to test your actions? Do they measure up to God's standards? Do you know what God says about lying? Cheating? Loving? Forgiving? Use your Bible every day. It will make you aware of sin--even what people consider to be little sins. They won't get out of control if you confess them and obey what God says in His Word. Today's Key Verse: How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. (Psalm 119:9) Today's Key Thought: Test your life with the Bible

"Robert says he's going to get a tattoo when he's thirteen--and his parents don't care," announced Levi one evening. "He has it picked out already!" Levi paused. "Next month when I'm thirteen, I'm gonna get one, too," he added. "A tattoo!" exclaimed Mom. "Why would you want one?" "They're cool!" replied Levi. "Everyone is getting them!" Dad shook his head. "Not everyone," he said, "and it isn't legal to get one at your age. Besides, there are health risks involved. But even if there weren't, I don't approve of them at any age." "I don't see what's wrong with them!" protested Levi. He turned angrily and left the room. A few days later, Levi's mother noticed a picture on her son's arm. "Levi!" she exclaimed. "That thing on your arm looks almost like a real tattoo! You know what Dad and I think about them." Levi scowled. "Oh, Mom," he said crossly, "you always over react! This will wash right off." "But look at it! That's not the kind of image you should be wearing even if it is just temporary. Go and wash it off now!" ordered Mom. Levi hesitated and then went to wash off the picture. When he came back, he glared at his mother. "Now are ya happy?" he asked. Mom frowned. "No, Levi, I'm not. I'm concerned about your rebellious attitude lately," she said. "Oh, Mom," grumbled Levi. "You could wash off that phony tattoo, but your rebellion can't be washed away so easily," said Mom. "You need a change in your heart." Levi looked glum and didn't say anything. "Do you think witchcraft is serious?" asked Mom after a few moments of silence. "Well . . . I don't know." Levi hesitated. "Yeah, I guess so." "God says rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft," Mom told him. "They're both from Satan. Long ago he rebelled against God, and now he works to get people to rebel. You may not see your attitude as serious, Levi, but God does. You need to seek His forgiveness and help." How About You? What is your attitude toward your parents and teachers and others in authority over you? What tone of voice do you use when you talk to them or talk about them? Rebellion begins with an attitude. Check yours. God hates rebellion and takes it very seriously. You should, too. Today's Key Verse: An evil man seeks only rebellion. (Proverbs 17:11) Today's Key Thought: Rebellion is serious

Jacob's eyes widened as his father took a small, sharp scissors from their First Aid kit. "You're going to have to hold still, Jacob," said Dad. "I have to cut this loose skin away so the hook will come out." Jacob had been having a great time with his dad on a fishing trip until one of his fish hooks became lodged in his thumb. As Jacob drew back his hand, his father added, "I know this will hurt a bit, but you don't want to leave this hook in your hand, do you?" Jacob shook his head. "Okay, Dad," he said. Jacob squeezed his eyes shut and held his hand out. Dad worked carefully, and soon the hook was out. Then Dad washed and disinfected the cut and put a bandage on it. Jacob and his father talked together as they sat by their campfire that night. "Dad," said Jacob, "why do things have to hurt?" "Well, Son, we live in a fallen world--you know that," replied Dad. "When Adam and Eve sinned, pain became a part of our lives. Even good things can hurt." After adding a log to the fire, Dad asked, "Can you think of something that was painful but good for you?" "I was already thinking of something," Jacob said. "Taking that hook out of my thumb!" Dad nodded. "It hurt, but it helped you," he said. "And how about the time your friend Mike admitted to Mr. Peterson that you boys were cutting through his backyard even after I had warned you about it?" "Mike wasn't helping me! You grounded me for a week--and made me pull weeds for Mr. Peterson." Jacob frowned. "Besides, we weren't bothering anything by going that way. I'm glad Mike got himself in trouble too. I'm still mad at him." "But he did the right thing. Mike helped you obey those in authority over you, which includes me and Mr. Peterson," said Dad. "I'd say that makes him a pretty good friend to have." "But he . . ." Jacob looked at the bandage on his hand. The thumb was still sore, but it felt much better since the hook was out. "Yeah, Mike's a good friend," he admitted. "I guess I should apologize for getting so mad at him." "Good idea," said Dad. "Now, how about some toasted marshmallows?" How About You? Have you felt wounded by what someone has done?Did a friend point out that you were doing something wrong? Did a teacher scold because you neglected homework? Did your parents make rules you don't like?When you're criticized or disciplined, think about whether you should change your actions or attitudes. If you should, take the necessary steps to do so even if it hurts at first. Thank God for faithful, true friends who want to help you become the best you can be. Today's Key Verse: Faithful are the wounds of a friend. (Proverbs 27:6) Today's Key Thought: Thank God for helpful hurts

I will not cry! I will not! I have to keep calm, Kerri told herself. They were here just a minute ago. While waiting with her sister and parents for a ride on the roller coaster at the fair, Kerri had gone to get a drink at a nearby water fountain. When she went back, her family had disappeared! Kerri walked up and down the long line of people waiting for rides, but her parents and sister weren't there. "Where are they?" Kerri muttered, choking back a sob. She quickly back-tracked to the lunch counter where they had eaten--but none of her family was anywhere in sight. What am I going to do? she wondered frantically. Suddenly Kerri remembered something. Mom said if we ever got separated from them, we should go to the big, double Ferris wheel and wait there. The rest of the family is supposed to go there, too, so we can all get back together. But where is the Ferris wheel? Mom said we'd be able to see it from anywhere in the park. Kerri looked all around. There it is! she thought excitedly. Way over there on the other side of the park. She hurried in the direction of the Ferris wheel. Soon Kerri was sobbing in her mother's arms. "We looked all over for you, honey," said Mom. "I-I-I looked for you, too," Kerri replied, "and then I remembered the Ferris wheel." Soon she felt better, and they all enjoyed the rest of the day. As Kerri and her family returned home from church the following day, Kerri was thoughtful. "This morning, Pastor David talked about people being lost," she said. "I know how that feels--it's scary! I'm so glad I didn't stay lost. I finally remembered that the Ferris wheel was the way to find you! But I didn't think about it until after I'd looked for you in lots of other places." "Like you said, being lost is scary," said Dad, "and Pastor David reminded us that a lot of people in the world are lost in sin." "But they don't have to stay lost, either," Kerri said quickly. "Jesus is the way for them to get to heaven. They can go to Him, and He'll save them." "That's right," agreed Dad. "It's sad that so many keep trying to find the way to heaven by themselves and refuse to come to Him." How About You? Do you know the way to be saved so that you may go to heaven someday? You may try lots of ways--like doing good deeds, going to Sunday school, giving money, or making sacrifices. But none of the good works you do will get you there. You must simply trust in Jesus to save you. He is the only way to heaven, and He's waiting for you to come to Him. Accept Him as your Savior today. (See the ABCs of Salvation here: http://www.cbhministries.org/ForKids/ABCsofSalvation.aspx.) Today's Key Verse: Jesus said . . . "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) Today's Key Thought: Jesus is the way to heaven