** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <Dec 29, 2020>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Feeling Special (Monday)

Read: Matthew 10:29-31 

 

Thomas's heart was heavy as he trudged down the road. Maybe I should run away, he thought. I bet nobody would even notice I was gone.

 

Lately Thomas had felt left out in his family. When his older brother got a home run in a ball game or a good grade on a report card, Mom and Dad made a big fuss over him. But when Thomas did something special, it seemed like his parents would just smile and say something like, "I remember when your brother did that two years ago."

 

Thomas's younger sister got even more attention. Everyone in the family, including Grandma and Grandpa, always said how cute she looked, and they laughed at the funny things she said.

 

Thomas sighed. But nobody ever thinks there's anything special about me. I'm just...there. His thoughts were interrupted by someone crying. Glancing ahead, he saw a small boy with a bike. "What's the matter?" asked Thomas.

 

"I'm st-stuck," the little boy answered through his tears.

 

Thomas saw that the boy's pant leg was caught in his bicycle chain. "I got stuck like that once too," Thomas said, kneeling to get a better look. "I think I can help you." He carefully worked with the material and chain. "Got it!" he exclaimed.

 

"Oh, thank you!" the boy said, sounding very much relieved. He looked up at Thomas with admiration. "You're great!"

 

Thomas felt better as he walked on. The boy's words reminded him of something his teacher at church had said. "God thinks you're great!" she had told the class. "There's nothing you can do to earn His love--He already loves you for who you are. Jesus died on the cross and rose again so you could be part of His family. Even though He helps us do good things for Him, that's not why He loves us--He loves us because we're His children. You are very special to Him."

 

God loves me because I'm His child, Thomas thought. He remembered something his mom had said when he'd gotten upset over a bad grade. And that's why Mom and Dad love me too--because I'm their son, not because of what I do.

 

Smiling, he turned around and started walking home, back to his loving family. Carolyn E. Yost

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have you felt left out in your family? Does it ever seem like the accomplishments of other family members overshadow your own? You are important to other people—and especially to God. In fact, you’re so important to Him that He sent His Son to die for you so you could become part of His family. He delights in each of His children—not because of what you do, but because of who you are. You are very special to Him.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will…rejoice over you with singing. (NIV)

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <Dec 28, 2020>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Not Your Fault (Tuesday)

Read: Psalm 147:3-5, 11 

 

Sophia's whole body shook with sobs. "Sophia," said Aunt Kelly, comforting her, "please try to stop crying so you can tell me what's wrong."

 

With great effort, Sophia did her best to control her tears. Her breath caught in her throat as she said, "Mom and Dad just told me they're getting a divorce. I think it's all my fault." Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

 

Aunt Kelly put her arms around Sophia. "I can understand how hurt you are, but you can't blame yourself, Sophia. You had nothing to do with your parents' divorce."

 

"But if I had been better, maybe Dad and Mom would have gotten along better too," Sophia said. "I haven't always obeyed them, and I can be difficult sometimes. I've caused them trouble and made them worry."

 

"When a couple gets divorced, their kids often blame themselves," said Aunt Kelly. "But they shouldn't. You are not the reason for your parents' divorce."

 

"Are you sure?" asked Sophia tearfully.

 

"Absolutely!" said Aunt Kelly. "I know this is a very painful situation, and when we feel overwhelmed with sadness, it can make us think we could have avoided it if we'd done something differently. But believe me, it's not your fault." She picked up her Bible from the coffee table and turned the pages. "God has comforting words for those whose hearts hurt deeply like yours does right now. Psalm 147 says the Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'"

 

Sophia wiped her eyes. "How would He do that?"

 

"One thing I believe He'll do is put people in your life--me and others--who will help you through this hard time," said Aunt Kelly. "But most importantly, Jesus promises to be with you when you're hurting. He went through great suffering Himself in order to save you when He died on the cross, and He offers comfort and healing for broken hearts. Pray every day and read your Bible so He can help you by reminding you of His love. Little by little, you'll begin to feel better." Aunt Kelly gave Sophia a hug. "Shall we pray together right now?"

 

Sophia nodded. Although she still felt very sad, she bowed her head as Aunt Kelly began to pray. Carolyn E. Yost

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you hurting because your parents got divorced? Do you blame yourself? Don’t! It is not your fault. It’s something between only them. Or maybe you’re dealing with a different kind of painful situation, like the death of a loved one. Whatever it is, remember that Jesus is with you. He wants to offer you His healing comfort and peace. Trust Him to heal your broken heart.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Psalm 147:3 (KJV)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (NKJV)

 

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < Dec 30, 2020>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Pizza, Please (Wednesday)

Read: Psalm 34:1-3, 8-9

 

"We're hungry!" announced Addison after she and her cousin Morgan helped their grandmother get her house ready for their family's New Year's Eve party.

 

"Then I guess you'd like something to eat," said Grandma. "What sounds good?"

 

"Pizza!" the girls sang out together.

 

Grandma smiled. "Don't know why I asked. It seems like pizza is America's favorite meal. Okay, pizza it is--we'll make it."

 

They got out the ingredients to make the dough. When it was ready, both girls helped spread the pizza sauce. Morgan tasted it as Grandma placed an assortment of cheeses and pizza toppings on the counter. "This sauce isn't great by itself," Morgan said. "Neither is the crust."

 

Addison laughed. "No, but it's good compared to onions. They're okay on pizza, but I don't like them raw...or green peppers either."

 

The girls talked as they continued preparing the pizza. "I wish I didn't have to go to school," Morgan said. "All my subjects seem really hard this year. I have to study a lot, and I still have a hard time understanding it all." She popped a slice of pepperoni into her mouth. "Oh, yum! Pepperoni is good by itself!"

 

"So is this cheese," said Addison. She sighed. "At least you don't have to deal with little kids bugging you at a school building. Sometimes I wish I weren't homeschooled. My little brother and sister always come barging into my room when I'm trying to do schoolwork!"

 

Morgan grinned. "Yeah, but they're so cute! And you have so much fun playing with them when you're not studying. You've really got it good. Hasn't she, Grandma?"

 

"We all have it good," Grandma replied. "I was just thinking that life is a lot like pizza. We like some of the ingredients--or experiences--and not others. But God uses all of them to help us become more like Jesus. Difficult schoolwork can help us learn to apply ourselves and persevere when things aren't easy. Little brothers or sisters can teach us patience.God uses all of life's ingredients for our good."

 

Morgan sighed. "I guess you're right, Grandma. When we have to deal with things in life we don't like, we need to remember that all the pizza ingredients--even the onions--taste good when they're baked together." Lucinda J. Rollings

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

How does life taste to you? Are you really pleased about something that’s happening in your life right now? Are you unhappy about something else? When you don’t like the taste of one of life’s ingredients, think of pizza and remember that God loves you and watches over you in everything you go through. Trust Him to help you through difficulties and work all your experiences together for your good.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Romans 8:28 (KJV)

We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him. (NLV)

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < Dec 16, 2020>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Martyrs (Thursday)

Read: John 12:24-26 

 

"We had a spelling contest at school today," Nate told his mom one afternoon.

 

"I goofed on the word martyr.' I spelled it m-a-r-t-e-r."

"Do you know what a martyr is?" Mom asked.

 

Nate nodded. "It's a person who gives their life for what they believe. We learned in Sunday school that the first Christian martyr was Stephen--the first one we know about, at least. He was stoned for telling people Jesus died and rose again to save them from sin." Nate rinsed off an apple in the sink. "We don't have any Christian martyrs today though, do we?"

 

"Indeed we do!" said Mom. "I read somewhere that there have been more Christian martyrs in the last century than in all the centuries before. Even today, some countries don't allow Christians to openly teach and practice their faith. It's not uncommon for believers in those places to be arrested--or even killed."

 

"Really?" Nate bit into his apple. "Have you known any martyrs?"

 

"Not personally, but many years ago, five brave men tried to share the gospel with a tribe in the jungles of Ecuador who had never heard about Jesus. One of those men--whose name, by the way, was Nate--came from the church my grandmother grew up in."

 

"What happened to him?" Nate asked.

 

"When the men attempted to make contact with the indigenous people, he was killed," Mom replied. "In fact, all five of those men were."

 

"That's horrible!" Nate said. "It seems like such a waste. Why wouldn't God have kept that from happening?"

 

"I can't say for sure, but perhaps because of what happened after the men were martyred," Mom replied. "Hundreds of young people who heard about it dedicated their lives to telling others about Jesus. Several years later, other missionaries were able to go to that tribe--including Nate's sister and another woman who had been married to one of the murdered missionaries. Some of the same men who led the attack came to Christ because of the love and forgiveness shown to them by the families of those they had killed." Mom smiled at Nate. "God's plan wasn't the same as that of those five men, but He didn't allow their lives to be wasted. He never does." Charlie VanderMeer

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Would you be willing to die for Jesus? From our point of view, such loss of life may seem like a waste, but God has a purpose in all He allows. Jim Elliot, one of the five missionaries mentioned in the story above, once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Jesus gave up His own life to save us from sin, and you can trust Him to use your life—and even your death—for good, knowing He’s given you eternal life that can never be lost.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Luke 9:24 (KJV)

Whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. (NKJV)

 

** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional < Dec 31, 2020>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Moving On (Friday)

Read: Genesis 12:1-5

 

"Goodbye," Lily said as she looked around at the home she'd always lived in. "I'll miss you."

 

As she got inside the car with Mom, Lily thought of the garden with its apple trees and the swing she loved. She swallowed back the tears, wondering how their new house could possibly match up. She bit her lip to stem the anxiety racing inside her at the thought of all she was leaving behind.

 

"I know how you feel, Lily," Mom said as they began driving. "I know change is unsettling."

 

Lily's lip trembled, and then tears rolled down her face. She wiped them away with her hand, hoping Mom wouldn't see them.

 

Mom passed Lily a tissue. "I believe we can all adjust with God's help. Brian has a new job, and it will be a new start for us all. I know moving can be scary, but remember that it's not just an ending--it's a beginning. It reminds me of Abraham and his wife, Sarah, in the Bible. God told them to leave their home and move to a new land. They obeyed, and God protected them, blessed them, and gave them a precious son named Isaac--the first in a long line of descendants that would eventually lead to Jesus being born. God used Abraham's obedience in His plan to bring us a Savior and a new beginning, and we can trust Him to bless us in our situation too."

 

Lily thought about her stepdad. It had been scary when he'd been laid off from his job. He'd spent hours applying for new ones, but he had never lost faith, even when facing countless rejections. Now this new position was even better than the last one, even though they had to move.

 

"Brian never gave up hope. He believed God would provide for us, and I will too," Lily said, drying her eyes.

 

When they reached their destination, Lily gasped. The house had a large garden to run around in. Her stepdad was waiting for them, smiling.

 

"So glad you had a safe journey," he said, hugging them both. "Come inside and I'll show you around."

 

"I love it, Mom," Lily said as they explored their new home. "You were right. We can trust God to bless this new beginning." Cindy Lee

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you facing a new start in life? Leaving behind what you know can be scary, but you don’t have to be afraid. God worked through many people’s lives to bless us all with a Savior, and you can trust Him to bring good from your circumstances too. As this year comes to an end and a new one begins, remember that He will help you in new situations and use them to bring you a new beginning.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT)