** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <May 11, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Roots (Monday)

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21; Colossians 2:6-7 

 

As Mateo and Leo helped their dad dig out stumps in an area behind their house, Mateo leaned on his shovel. "Is this stump ready to pull yet?" he asked, looking at the one he was digging around.

 

Dad came over and checked it. "Not quite ready," he said. "Keep digging."

"I've got a root ready for you to chop, Dad!" called Leo.

 

Dad grabbed the ax and went to Leo's stump. Chips flew as he chopped the root. "This one looks ready to pull," said Dad. He hooked a chain from the truck to the stump. Leo and Mateo cheered as the stump came out easily.

 

Mateo kept digging, and soon Dad came over and chopped the roots he had uncovered. When the stump was finally ready to pull, Dad hooked it up to the truck. This time, the tires spun, but eventually the stump came out.

 

After dinner, Dad opened his Bible and read several verses, emphasizing one phrase--"being rooted and grounded in love." Dad looked up. "Does this verse remind you of anything?"

 

Mateo and Leo groaned and rubbed their sore muscles. "It reminds me of all the roots we had to dig up and chop out," said Mateo. "Those stumps were rooted and grounded in the backyard."

 

Dad smiled. "You're right. And this verse talks about having strong roots in love. God is love, so how do we get strong roots in Him?"

 

"Well, we have to know Jesus as our Savior," said Leo.

 

Dad nodded. "Jesus showed us God's love by dying on the cross for our sins, and when we trust in Him, He fills our hearts with His love. What are some things we can do to grow in our relationship with Jesus?"

 

"By reading what He has to say to us in the Bible," Mateo suggested. "And by praying."

 

"And how about by going to church?" added Leo.

 

"Good," said Dad. "Being rooted in Jesus involves a whole lifestyle of dependence and trust in Him. It was hard to pull the stumps with roots firmly in the ground, and it's hard for Satan to get us to sin or pull us out of fellowship with God when we're firmly rooted and grounded in Jesus."

 

-Hope L. Aderman

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you growing strong roots in Christ? Do you spend time with Him in prayer? Do you read the Bible to learn more about Him and what He has to say to you? Do you attend church faithfully? As He works in your heart and teaches you to depend on Him, your root system will grow so you can stand strong against Satan, sin, and anything else that tests your faith.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Colossians 2:7 (KJV)

Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith. (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 <May 10, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Bloom (Tuesday)

Read: Psalm 92:12-15 

 

Keisha walked closely beside her mom as they made their way to the subway station. She wasn't used to all the noise and crowds. Her family had just moved into the city last week, and Keisha felt sad to be so far from her old house and friends.

 

"Mama, I don't like it here," Keisha pouted. "I wish we still lived in our old neighborhood."

 

Mom took her hand and led her to a less busy side street. "Honey, you've been complaining about how much you dislike this city ever since we moved here. I know moving was hard for all of us, but we prayed and felt God leading your dad to take this new job."

 

Keisha frowned. "I don't understand why God had us move here! Why couldn't Dad get a job somewhere else?" She stared at the sidewalk and noticed a tiny bit of green peeping through a crack. Bending down for a closer look, Keisha saw a small white bud about ready to bloom. "Mom, look! There's a little flower growing out of the sidewalk!"

 

"Most people call that a weed," Mom said, grinning. "It must be quite hardy to grow in a place like this. My grandma used to tell us grandkids, Bloom where you're planted.'"

 

"What did she mean by that?" asked Keisha.

 

"She believed that God put people in certain places for a reason. One of Grandma's favorite Bible stories was about Esther, who was taken from her home to live as queen with a king she didn't even know very well. But God used Queen Esther to save the Jewish people from being destroyed in a wicked plot by one of the king's rulers."

 

Mom pointed to the flower in the sidewalk. "Keisha, I don't know exactly why God led us to this city at this time, but I know He has a plan for us here. Just like that little plant can bloom out of a crack in the sidewalk on a busy city street, you can bloom right here in the city by letting Jesus' light shine through you wherever you go. Start looking for ways you can share His love with others. Jesus can use you right here where He's planted you." Kendra Angle

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you having a hard time with something new? Sometimes it’s difficult to see God’s plan for us in moving to a new neighborhood, a new school, or just having a different routine than what we’ve been used to. But God has a purpose for you right where you’re at. Trust Him to show you how to share His love with the people around you and bloom where you’re planted.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Esther 4:14 (KJV)

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (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 <May 12, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Guarded Words (Wednesday)

Read: James 3:2-10  using  KJVNKJVNIVERV

Bible version changes do not affect the Key audio or "Today's Key Verse," below.

Powered by Keys for Kids Radio

 

Ruby walked out to the backyard where her grandmother was pruning a rosebush. "Hi, Ruby," Grandma said. Seeing Ruby's unhappy face, she asked, "What seems to be the trouble?"

 

Ruby sat down on the grass. "It's Katie! I thought we were best friends, but she hardly even speaks to me now!"

"Really?" asked Grandma. "Why's that?"

"Well...Ashley said Katie's jacket looked funny, and I said I thought so too. We were just teasing!" Ruby sighed. "We all poke fun at each other. The others say I have a weird way of eating ice cream, and we tease Ashley about her laugh--she sounds just like a donkey! And Katie sometimes dresses goofy. I don't know why she got so upset when we said so this time!"

 

"I see." Grandma hesitated and then picked a rose and handed it to Ruby. "Let's see how long it will take you to pull all the petals off this flower, one by one." She looked at her watch. "Ready? Go!"

 

Ruby looked at Grandma curiously but began to tear off the petals as fast as she could.

 

"Good. That didn't take long," said Grandma. "Now let's see how long it takes you to put all the petals back on the stem. Are you ready?"

"Gram!" Ruby exclaimed. "You know that's impossible."

"Yes," said Grandma. "Sometimes it's impossible to undo damage caused by words too. Remember this rose when you're tempted to be careless with words."

Ruby frowned. "But I didn't mean to make Katie feel bad!"

 

"No, but you did, didn't you?" Grandma put an arm around Ruby. "Sometimes we hurt others without meaning to. Even though you didn't mean any harm by your comments, Katie was hurt by them. So what do you think you should do about it?"

 

"Apologize, I guess," said Ruby. "Only I'm not sure Katie will listen."

 

"Maybe not, but you can try," said Grandma. "After this, consider words carefully before you speak them. Think about the other person and whether what you say might hurt them. We all make mistakes and say the wrong thing sometimes, but Jesus will forgive us and help us speak uplifting words to others." Grandma squeezed Ruby's shoulder. "Hopefully Katie will forgive you too." Ruby nodded. "I'll call Katie and tell her I'm sorry."

 

-Bethany R. Elms

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you think before you speak? Words used carelessly can hurt others, even if they’re not meant to. Sometimes it’s okay to joke about what someone says or does, but before you do that, think about whether that person might be hurt by you poking fun at them. The Bible says the tongue is like a fire that can quickly get out of control. Guard it carefully, and if you do say something hurtful, ask for forgiveness.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Psalm 141:3 (KJV)

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (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 <May 13, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Aunt Sue’s Gift (Thursday)

Read: Psalm 119:15-18, 24-27

 

Joshua eagerly opened the birthday gift his aunt had sent him. "Look!" he said. "It's the game I've been wanting!"

"There's something else in here too," Mom said, pulling a smaller package from the bottom of the box.

 

Joshua tore it open. "It's a book of missionary stories."

"Oh, those should be interesting," said Mom. "Aunt Sue works with missionaries and probably thought you'd like to read some of their stories."

 

Joshua shrugged. "I like mysteries or sports stories," he muttered, tossing the book on the table.

 

A couple months later, a group of missionaries visited Joshua's church, and his parents had some of them over for dinner. Joshua listened attentively as one of them told about his experiences in India. "A local pastor and I were on our way to preach in one of the villages," said Mr. Kim. "As we were walking, we noticed a leopard following us. We expected it to attack us at any moment, but it never did. To our surprise, it finally just quit following us and left us alone." He smiled. "I believe God kept us safe in answer to the prayers of His people back home." He went on to tell of another time God had kept him safe in a dangerous situation. Joshua would have liked to hear more, but the missionaries needed to get to the church for a meeting.

Several days later, Joshua idly took a book from a shelf and turned a few pages. He suddenly sat up straight. "Mom!" he exclaimed. "This book from Aunt Sue is written by Mr. Kim!" Joshua eagerly started reading the stories.

 

"This book is good," said Joshua, putting it down when it was time to go to bed. "After reading this, I feel like I know Mr. Kim better. I hope he comes to our church again sometime."

 

"You feel like he's a friend, don't you?" said Mom. "After you met him, you got to know him better through his book. That's something like our relationship with Jesus, Joshua. He gave us a book that helps us get to know Him as a friend."

 

"That's the Bible, isn't it?" Joshua said. "I should read that too and get to know Jesus better."

 

-Geri Walcott

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you sometimes wish you knew Jesus better? You can get to know Him through His book—the Bible. It has lots of stories that show us who God is and how much He loves us. As you read the Bible and learn more about it at church, it will help you know Jesus more and more. Get to know Jesus better as a friend by reading His book.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: John 5:39 (KJV)

These are the very Scriptures that testify about me [Jesus]. (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 <May 15, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Just Like Tabitha (Friday)

Read: Acts 9:36-42 

 

"What are you making, Mom?" Madeline asked as she watched her mother's knitting needles move in and out.

 

"I'm making a baby sweater for one of the ladies at church," Mom answered. "Mrs. Pearson is having a baby next month."

"It seems like you're always knitting or baking for somebody," Madeline said.

 

"Well, I enjoy making things and giving them away," said Mom. "I think it's kind of like when you make something special at school and bring it to me."

 

"Yeah, but that's a little different," Madeline replied. "I mean, you're my mom! But you do a lot of stuff for people you hardly know."

 

"Not as much as Tabitha did," Mom said.

 

"Tabitha?" asked Madeline. "Who's she? Do I know her?"

 

"The book of Acts in the Bible tells about her," Mom explained. "She was a Christian and did many good deeds. She knew how to sew, and she devoted much of her time and energy to making clothes for poor people and widows. Tabitha was always helping others. I imagine she was also their friend and listened to their troubles and comforted them."

"I think I remember hearing about her in church," Madeline said.

"I wouldn't be surprised," said Mom. "When Tabitha died, everyone was very sad. Do you recall what happened next?"

 

Madeline thought for a moment, then she nodded. "I remember that she died--but then she was raised from the dead!"

"That's right," said Mom. "God used the apostle Peter to bring her back to life. When people saw that she had been resurrected by God's power, many of them put their trust in Jesus."

 

"When I get older, I'm going to be like you and Tabitha and do things for other people," Madeline said.

 

"You don't have to wait that long," said Mom. "Even before Tabitha was raised from the dead, God's power was evident in her life in the way she loved and helped others. Since you also trust in Jesus, you have His power in your life too. You can show His love by doing good things for others just like Tabitha."

 

Madeline smiled as she listened to the soft clicking of her mom's knitting needles. "Then I'm going think of some things I can do to help others right now!" -V. Louise Cunningham

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

How can you do good for others? You don’t need to wait until you’re older or have any special skills to help someone. If you know Jesus, you have the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, and that’s all you need! He fills you with love for others and helps you do good things that point them to Jesus. Think of something you can do to help someone today!

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:  Proverbs 31:20 (KJV)

She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. (NKJV)