Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids Keys For Kids Ministries

"C'mon, Rocket," Gemma called to her dog. "Let's go outside." When she opened the back door, Rocket raced out into the fenced yard. Then he ran back to Gemma. He jumped up playfully before racing through the yard once again. Finally, he stopped near his favorite bush and sniffed the ground. "Here, Rocket," Gemma
said, picking up a ball. Rocket continued to sniff out the area, then dug into the ground with his front paws and nose. Gemma walked over and saw that he had uncovered a bone. He lay down and began chewing on it contentedly. "Silly dog," Gemma said, shaking her head.
A short time later, they went back into the house. "Rocket dug up a bone and chewed it a while, and then he buried it again," Gemma told her mom. "Why do dogs bury bones?"
"I don't really know," replied Mom.
"You're so silly, Rocket," Gemma told her pet. "When I get something good, I don't hide it!"
"Are you sure about that?" asked Mom. "I think there are things we often use for ourselves and then hide away when we're done--kind of like Rocket."
"There are?" Gemma frowned. "Like what? I can't think of anything."
"Well, the Bible says we all have different gifts that come from the Lord," Mom explained. "Some of those gifts are things like money or possessions, and others are talents and abilities. Sometimes we think of those gifts as things that are just for us, but the Bible says they're not just for our benefit--we're meant to share
them with others."
"So, keeping those things to ourselves would be like Rocket burying his bone in the yard?" asked Gemma.
Mom nodded. "God wants us to use what He's given us to help build His kingdom and point people to Him. God's best gift of all is the one He gave the whole world--Jesus, who died for our sins and is coming back one day to reign forever as King. The gifts and blessings we have in our lives all come from Him, and
He wants us to use them to share His love with others."
Gemma smiled as she stroked Rocket's fur. "Then we can enjoy our gifts more too if we share them instead of hiding them away."
--Nance E. Keyes

"But I don't want to wear mismatched shoes, Kassi," Brooke informed her best friend. The two girls were sitting together while riding the bus for a class field trip. During the drive, Kassi shared with Brooke how she longed to be unique--to stand out from the crowd and be different. But Brooke thought Kassi's idea about
how to showcase her personal style went too far.
"If you wear one of my shoes, and I wear one of yours, we'll be wearing one of each. We're the same size, you know. Two different shoes--that's totally being different!" Kassi seemed so excited.
"Sorry, Kassi." Brooke shook her head.
That evening at home, Kassi talked with her grandfather on the phone and explained her goal of being different. "Grandpa, I don't want to be just like everybody else; I want to be uniquely me. You know, the individual God created."
"God did a great job of making you, Kassi! And I know He is pleased with you. Simply being different isn't always better though," Grandpa answered.
Kassi thought about this as Grandpa continued. "Last summer, you gave your life to Jesus, remember? You put your trust in Him, who died for us, for the forgiveness of your sins. Now, as His child, you are called to be different--but not so much when it comes to the shoes you wear."
"What do you mean?" Kassi asked.
"God wants His people to be set apart, dedicated to Him. God desires for you to be different in your character, your love for Him and others, and your obedience to Him. That matters much more to Him than how you dress," Grandpa replied.
"I get it, Grandpa. Since I belong to God, I need to make it my goal to be different from others by being more like Jesus instead of by making unusual fashion choices."
"God tells us to be holy as He is holy--and He has given us the Holy Spirit so we can live in a way that shows others we belong to Jesus. You can do that and wear mixed-up shoes at the same time," Grandpa assured her.
Kassi laughed. "But next time, I won't try to convince Brooke to join me!"

– Allison Wilson Lee

Roman tapped his fingers on the console of his family's minivan. He was about to honk the horn when he saw Mom lock the front door and swoop his baby sister onto her hip.
"Hurry," Roman mumbled. He wanted to get to the game store early.
Mom opened the back door and secured his sister in her car seat, then slipped into the driver's seat and started the engine.
"Finally," said Roman. When Mom turned and arched a brow, Roman knew he needed to reign in his impatience. "Sorry, Mom."
She smiled. "I know you're excited, but you need to calm down. We'll get there." They pulled out of the driveway and headed toward town.
Roman opened his wallet and counted the bills neatly lined up inside. He'd helped with yard work and done extra chores around the house to save up for the new PlayBox video game console. It had taken him five months, but today he would be one of the first kids to own the only gaming system that would give him access to the latest and greatest downloadable video games. He could hardly wait.
When Mom pulled into the parking lot, Roman's heart plummeted. Swarms of people stood outside the door, and the store didn't open for another thirty minutes. How could there be a line already? He unbuckled his seatbelt. "I'm going to get in line."
"All right," said Mom. "I'll be at the grocery store next door. Come find me when you're done."
An hour later, Roman held the large box in his hands as they pulled out of the parking lot. "Do you have any money left?" asked Mom.
"No." Roman ran his finger along the edges of the box. "But that's okay."
"It was worth it?" asked Mom.
Roman looked at his mom and smiled. "Totally."
"You know," said Mom, "there's a story in the Bible about a man who sells everything he has to buy a field with hidden treasure. He wanted that treasure so much, he was willing to let go of everything else. Jesus says God's kingdom is like that."
"Really?" asked Roman. "How?"
Mom looked at him. "What do you think?"
Roman squinted into the morning sun. "Because being in God's family is the best treasure ever, and knowing Jesus is worth more than anything else?"
Mom smiled and nodded. "Totally."
–Vickie Price Taylor

CRASH! Mae threw one of her toys across the room. Why does everything have to be so difficult? Flopping on her bed, Mae grabbed her stuffed octopus and flipped it inside out. Now it was frowning back at her. "That's how I feel too, Oki."
"What happened? I heard a crash." Mom slipped into Mae's room and sat down next to her daughter. "Uh-oh, I see that Oki's face matches yours right now."
"I can't get that bracelet right! I even read the instructions and watched that video on it, but it's still not turning out."
"Yes, I can see how that would be frustrating. Why didn't you ask for help?"
Mae shrugged. "Sometimes I just want to figure it out on my own."
Mom nodded and sighed. "I do that sometimes too."
"You do?" Mae looked at Mom suspiciously.
"How about last week when I got that new mixer and tried to put it together?"
"You were really frustrated!" Mae recalled. "Good thing Ben can figure stuff like that out."
"Your big brother was very patient and got it working, but I had to ask him first. I also had to ask God for help."
Mae's eyes widened. "God helped you put the mixer together?"
Mom laughed. "Not physically, no, but He did help me with my attitude. You remember how I was pretty upset with myself when I couldn't figure it out? I could have allowed that frustration to determine my attitude for the rest of my day, but instead I prayed and asked God to help me remember that I have the Holy Spirit in me and can let my attitude reflect His love. I was grumbling and irritable, but with God's help, I chose to focus on what was true, right, and lovely, just like it says in Philippians chapter four."
"God helped you flip your attitude," said Mae.
Mom nodded. "It's okay to get frustrated, Mae, everyone does. What we do when we're frustrated is what matters. Do we stick with this face and attitude--" Mom grabbed Oki and turned her inside out "--or do we trust God to help us not lose sight of His goodness, love, and promises, even when we feel frustrated?"
Mae winked at Mom. "Oki does look better with a smile."
–Savannah Coleman

"Anna makes me so mad!" declared Kenzo. "She never listens to anyone else's ideas. And she always whispers in class. I wish she'd just sit still for one minute and listen to what someone else is saying!"
"Well, just be sure you don't let her keep you from listening when your teacher is speaking," said Mom. "Listening is your responsibility."
After dinner, it was Kenzo's turn to read a selection for family devotions. He quickly read through the verses, then shut the Bible. "Okay, so can we pray now?" he asked, sitting on the edge of his chair. "I have homework to do."
"In a minute," said Dad. "I have a praise to share. This morning, I read Ephesians 4:32 and realized that the Lord was telling me to forgive a man at work for something he had said about me. I prayed about it, and I trusted God to help me let go of my bitter attitude and forgive him. It was hard to do, but I feel so much better now."
"How does God speak to you?" asked Kenzo. "He never speaks to me like that."
"Could it be that you don't take the time to listen?" asked Dad.
"I listen," said Kenzo. "My teacher says I'm one of her best listeners."
"Listening to God is a bit different though," Mom said. "God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. When we read it and listen to what it says, the Holy Spirit speaks its truth to our hearts."
"Just like this morning when I read that verse about forgiveness and God spoke to me through it and made me realize that I had to do what it says," Dad added. "As we listen to God's voice in the Bible and carefully think about the verses we read, the Holy Spirit helps us understand the truth He wants us to know and live it out in our lives. But we won't know what He's saying unless we listen."
"Remember how you wished your friend Anna could sit still for one minute?" asked Mom. "I think God would like you to sit still and listen to Him speak."
–Nance E. Keyes

Zebb leaned forward as he and his family traveled through the African game reserve. His excitement at seeing animals in their natural habitats was rapidly being replaced by frustration.
"There's a springbok!" said their guide, pointing out the window.
"Where?" Zebb strained to look in the direction the guide had indicated. "I don't see it." He plopped back in his seat. "Why am I the only one who can't spot any animals even after someone tells me where to look?"
"It's because they blend in so well with the trees and grass," said Mom. "But I'm sure you'll learn to spot the animals soon."
"I don't know," said Zebb. "If I had to depend on hunting them for food, I think I'd starve to death." He managed a weak smile.
Dad grinned at him. "God gave wild animals effective camouflage, didn't He? That's just the opposite of the way He wants us to be."
Zebb rolled his eyes. "Dad! No riddles right now. I'm having enough trouble trying to see the animals!"
"I think Dad is talking about Christians," said Mom. "He's saying that God doesn't want us to lead camouflaged lives."
"You got it!" Dad said. "God wants to shine His light, His love, and His good news to the world through us. He wants others to see Jesus by the way we live."
Zebb stared into the distance. "You're thinking about us going to Uncle Ron's house next week, aren't you?" Zebb knew his uncle didn't believe in Jesus.
Dad nodded. "I'm praying that Uncle Ron will see Jesus in us and decide he wants to get to know Him himself. Sometimes it can feel daunting to share the love of Jesus with others, but God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. I'm praying He'll work through us to show Uncle Ron what Jesus is like and give us an opportunity to share the truth with him."
"Me too," said Zebb. Just then, he saw a flicker of movement near a tree. He focused all his attention on the spot and finally made out a shape. "I see a giraffe--no, a whole bunch of giraffes--in those trees over there!" Zebb beamed triumphantly. "Finally!" Looking at his dad, he said, "I hope people--especially Uncle Ron--won't have as much trouble seeing Jesus when they look at us."
–Linda Avallone