** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다. Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <January 22, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Something Beautiful (Monday)

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:9-13 

 

I wonder if Mom will ever be well again, Savannah thought as she got out of the car and walked with her aunt toward the church. Savannah was staying with her while Dad took Mom to a special doctor in another city.

 

"Look at that window, Savannah," Aunt Melanie said, pointing to a stained glass window visible from the outside of the church building.

 

Savannah looked up, but she wasn't impressed. "All I see are a bunch of little dark pieces of glass," she said with a frown.

 

"Wait till we get inside, and then look again," replied Aunt Melanie.

 

After they took their seats, Aunt Melanie nudged Savannah. "Look!" she said, and Savannah looked up at the stained glass window. It looked much different from this side. The sun shone brightly through the colored glass, revealing a picture of children gathered around Jesus.

 

As they were leaving their seats at the end of the service, Aunt Melanie again motioned toward the window. "You know, that window looks so different with the sun shining through it, and that reminds me of life." She reached over to squeeze Savannah's shoulders. "From our point of view, life can seem dark and dull, especially when we're going through bad times--like your mom's illness. But Jesus can help us see things from His angle. He can shine through the difficulties we face and make a beautiful picture of our lives."

 

Savannah sighed deeply. "I'm so scared though," she said.

 

"I understand," said Aunt Melanie, "and so does Jesus. He knows what it's like to go through terrible hardship--He suffered and died to save us from sin. When we face hard times in our lives, He's close to us and uses them to help us grow in our relationship with Him and show others His love. He can shine through our suffering so we--and others--can see a clearer picture of who He is."

 

As Savannah stared at the window, the face of Jesus seemed to light up as the sun shone through the glass. She gave her aunt a small smile as they headed for the door. Hazel W. Marett

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Does life look dull and dreary to you? Perhaps there’s been sickness or a death in your family. Maybe your parents are separating, or your best friend moved away. Jesus understands how you feel when you’re hurting—He faced terrible suffering and death to give you eternal life. When you face difficulties, He will use them to help you know Him better and become more like Him. Trust Him to make something beautiful out of your life.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV)

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. (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 31, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Second Chance (Tuesday)

Read: Matthew 18:21-22; Colossians 3:12-13

 

"Look what Elias did to my math book!" Isabelle said angrily. "He's ruined it!" She turned toward her little brother. "Don't you ever touch my books again!"

 

"I'm sorry, Isabelle," Elias said sadly. "It just broked."

"Books don't just break! You ripped it. You were careless, and now it's all torn up." Isabelle shook her finger at Elias. "From now on, you leave my books alone!" she said as she went to get ready for school.

 

That afternoon Mom joined Isabelle in her room. "How's the homework coming along? You had a test today, didn't you?"

 

"Yes, but most of us messed up on it," Isabelle replied. "We didn't understand the problems very well, so Miss Nelson explained them again. We're having another test tomorrow. She's giving us a chance to bring our grades up." Isabelle smiled. "Miss Nelson is a really nice teacher."

 

Mom nodded. "I'd say it's good of her to give you a second chance."A moment later, she added, "Elias sure could use a second chance too."

Isabelle looked puzzled. "Does Elias have to take tests in kindergarten?"

 

"I was thinking of your math book. I think he needs a second chance with you," Mom explained. "Don't you think you were a little hard on him? I don't think he's quite gotten over it--he's been very quiet today."

Isabelle looked down at her hands. "It just makes me so mad when he touches my stuff without asking."

 

"I know," said Mom. "He needs to learn not to do that. But God gives us second chances all the time--Jesus always forgives us when we sin. And we need to do the same for others--even little brothers."

 

Just then, Elias came into the room. "I'm gonna save my 'lowance and buy you a new book," he told his sister.

 

Isabelle's glance fell on her math book, and she shook her head. "You don't have to do that, Elias. I know you didn't rip it on purpose, and I'm sorry I was mean about it." Isabelle gave him a smile. "Just don't touch my school books from now on, okay? I have lots of other books you can look at instead. Just try be careful with them."

 

"Okay!" agreed Elias with a big smile. "I'll be very careful!"

 

-Barbara J. Westberg

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you realize how many second chances God has given you? How often have you cheated, lied, or disobeyed? How many times have you failed God in one way or another? Yet when you confessed your sin to Jesus, He always forgave you. Are you holding a grudge now because someone made you angry? Trust Jesus to help you forgive as He does.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Colossians 3:13 (KJV)

Bear with each other and forgive one another… Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (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 <June 01, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Giving What You Can

Read: Mark 12:41-44

 

Ali wanted to put more money in the offering plate, but all she had was a few coins. As the plate made its way across the aisle, she watched her friends drop several bills in. Ali frowned. It didn't seem fair that her parents couldn't give her much money to put in. She wanted to do more.

 

The next day, Ali set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the church. She felt good about it until she added up the money at the end of the day and found she had only made a few dollars.

 

"I'll never be able to give as much as my friends," Ali mumbled.

Her dad, who was searching for jobs online, looked up. "What was that?"

 

"My friends give a lot more money to church than we do. Even with the lemonade stand, my money won't make any difference compared to what they give."

 

Dad shook his head. "It's not about how much you give, Ali--it's about where it comes from." Ali's brow wrinkled. "What does that mean?"

 

Dad closed his laptop. "There was a widow in the Bible. She only had a few coins, but she gave them away. Jesus said she had given more than anyone else because she gave her all. That's what you're doing."

 

"It is?" Ali asked.

 

Dad nodded. "You've worked hard to earn money at your lemonade stand today so you could give more to the church. Even though it doesn't seem like much to you, you're giving what you have to help our church show people the love of Jesus, and that's what matters. God sees your heart, and He can use whatever amount you give Him for good, even if it's just a little."

 

Ali looked at her little stack of money. It wasn't much, but it was all she had. "I think I want to do another lemonade stand next week," she said.

 

Dad smiled. "I'll be the first in line!"

 

Ali smiled back. She might not earn very much from her lemonade stand, but it was a way to help her church, and she wanted to do it. She wanted to give from her heart.

 

-Bethany Acker

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have you ever worried that you aren’t giving enough? The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver. Do you feel cheerful about what you give? Do you give from your heart out of gratitude for all Jesus has done for you? That’s what matters. God can use any amount of money or time you give, no matter how little it is, to show people His love.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (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 <June 02, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

The Mysterious Witness (Thursday)

Read: Psalm 32:1-11

 

The numbers on the watch glowed eerily in the darkness. Damien sighed as he got up and shoved the watch into his dresser drawer. Why did I steal it? he wondered. Damien had seen the watch while he and his mom were out shopping. He wanted it so much that he slipped it into his pocket. I can't wear this, he thought, Mom and Dad will notice, and how would I explain it? I sure hope nobody saw me take it. Damien tossed and turned all night, and the next morning, he was worn out from exhaustion and guilt.

 

At lunchtime, Damien noticed several teachers talking quietly together, and one seemed to glance in his direction. In fact, it seemed like everybody looked at him suspiciously. Who saw me take it? he wondered.

 

That night, Damien heard footsteps in the hallway. "Who's there?" he whispered hoarsely. "What do you want?"

Damien's dad appeared in the doorway. "I just got up for a drink of water," he said. "Is something wrong?" "It's in my top drawer," Damien said, tears filling his eyes. "Go ahead and take it."

Puzzled, Dad turned on the light and opened the drawer. He gave a low whistle as he held up the watch. "Judging from what you said just now, I'm assuming you didn't get this honestly, did you?"

Damien poured out the whole story, ending with his impression that everybody seemed to know what he had done.

Dad nodded. "Someone did see you take that watch, and He's been bothering you about it."

"Who?" asked Damien.

 

"God saw you," Dad replied. "When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, He makes it clear to us that our actions do not fit with who we are as God's children."

 

"I...I need to take it back and admit I stole it, don't I?" said Damien.

"Yes," Dad said. "And what else do you think you should do?"

Damien thought a moment. "I need to confess it to Jesus."

 

Dad nodded. "Jesus always forgives us when we confess our sin and helps us right our wrongs."

 

So Damien bowed his head, asked for God's forgiveness, and promised to take the watch back the next day and accept the consequences for stealing it. Then he slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.

 

-Sherry L. Kuyt

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Is there a sin the Holy Spirit is convicting you about? Is the guilt over what you did making it difficult to think of anything else? Even if no one else knows what you did, God does. You can’t hide your sin from Him. Confess your sin to Jesus and receive the perfect peace of His forgiveness. Then admit what you did to anyone else you wronged and make it right.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Proverbs 28:1 (KJV)

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. (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 <June 05, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**

 

Want to Go on a Snail Hunt? (Friday)

Read: Isaiah 53:6; Luke 15:1-7

 

"Mom," Melody cried. "Molly is gone!" Molly was the family's mystery snail.

Melody's older brothers, Bill and Randy, ran to the living room. "Mel, don't be silly," said Bill. "She has to be in the tank someplace; she's a water snail. She's probably hiding."

 

Melody rolled her eyes. "I looked everywhere! I gently lifted all the plants and checked under them."

"Hmm..." Randy mumbled as he rechecked the tank. "Mom," he called with a sense of urgency. "Molly is missing!"

 

Mom came upstairs. "That's strange. Let's check to see if water snails can escape."

 

Melody shouted to wake up their smart speaker. "Can mystery snails escape their tank?" she asked it. In no time at all, they learned that the snails can escape their tanks, but they only live two days out of the water. To find them, one must follow their trail.

Bill ran for flashlights as he called out, "Want to go on a snail hunt?" The three children squealed and began searching.

"I see the trail!" Randy exclaimed. "See the sticky trail heading under the recliner?"

"Careful!" Bill said as they moved the recliner. "There she is!"

 

Melody scooped Molly up and gently placed her back in the water. "You silly snail! You can't live out here. You need to stay in the safety of your tank. I'm so glad we found you!"

 

After much laughter over their adventures at supper that night, Mom became thoughtful. "You know, this adventure reminds me of how much God loves us even though we want to go our own way. Remember the parable Jesus told of the shepherd going after the one lost sheep even though the other ninety-nine sheep were safe? Jesus loves us enough to come searching for us."

 

"Yeah," Bill chimed in. "Just like we rescued Molly, Jesus came to earth to save us from our sin."

 

"Yes," Mom said. "But it cost Jesus a lot more than it cost us to get Molly back. He gave His life to pay the price of our sin and bring us back to God."

 

Melody look at the snail tank and smiled. "And now we're safe with Him."

 

-Myrical Barton

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you lost? The Bible says our sin has caused each one of us to go our own way, and we’ve all wandered far from God. So He went searching for us. Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth as a human and died on the cross for our sins. When you put your trust in Him, you’re no longer lost—you’re saved! Trust Him as your Savior today.

 

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:  Luke 19:10 (KJV)

For the Son of Man [Jesus] has come to seek and to save the lost. (CSB)