Read: Romans 5:1-5

Marta sat down on the couch beside her grandmother and glanced at the needlepoint canvas she was working on. “That’s so pretty!” said Marta. “That’s going to be the cover for the pillow you made for my bed, isn’t it? Is it almost finished?”

“Not yet,” said Grandma, “but it’s getting there.” She turned the canvas over and cut a thread.

“Wow!” said Marta. “It doesn’t look so good on the back side—just a big tangle of threads.” She grinned. “Be sure you don’t put it on the pillow inside out!”

Grandma laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Marta picked up a photo album from the coffee table and flipped through it. “Grandma,” she said after a few minutes, “I still miss Grandpa a lot. I just don’t understand why God didn’t make him get better! We prayed and prayed for him, but he died anyway.”

Grandma squeezed Marta’s hand. “I know you miss him, honey. I do too. I don’t know why the Lord took Grandpa to heaven instead of giving him more time here with us, but…” She paused and held up her needlework so Marta could see the back of the canvas again. “As you pointed out, this side of the picture isn’t very pretty.” She turned the cloth over to the finished side.

“That side is much better,” said Marta. “I love the little frogs in that picture. They’re so cute!”

“Yes, they are—even though I’m not finished yet.” Grandma laid the needlework back in her lap and looked at Marta. “Some things that happen to us—or to those we love—look like the tangled threads on the wrong side of a needlepoint picture,” she said softly. “But God sees the right side. His picture of our lives isn’t finished yet, and He knows what threads are needed to make it beautiful. We need to trust Him to work out every part just right, knowing that Jesus gave His life so that our lives could be a beautiful reflection of Him.”

Marta picked up her grandma’s needlework and smiled. “Once this is finished and on my bed, the frogs in the picture will remind me to trust God with my life, even when things happen that I don’t understand.”

–Richard S. Maffeo

How about you? Has something sad happened in your life? Is it hard to understand why God allows those kinds of things to happen? When things happen that you don’t understand, trust that God is using them for good, even though you can’t see it. He loves you and will always be there to help you through the hard times, and one day you’ll be able to see the beautiful picture He’s made of your life.

Today's Key Verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Trust Jesus in everything

Read: James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:18

Sebastian was so focused on coloring the big red heart that he didn’t hear his dad come into his room. Dad stood behind him and read the poem written on the card Sebastian was making out loud. “‘Roses are red, the snow is white…you light up my life like a big headlight.’” Dad grinned. “You certainly have a way with words, son. I’m guessing this Valentine isn’t for your mom.”

Sebastian looked up from his coloring. “It’s for a girl in my class. It took me two weeks to come up with that. Do you think she’ll like it?”

“I think every girl likes to hear kind words. What else are you planning to do for her for Valentine’s Day?”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything. I was just going to wow her with words.”

Dad smiled. “Your words are a great start, but you need to do something to back up what you say. Offer to clean the hamster cage when it’s her turn. Or change your poem to ‘A rosy, red rose, a white snowflake…you warm my heart like a cookie that’s baked,’ and make her a batch of cookies. Do something to prove your words have meaning.”

“Did Grandpa give you this advice when you were my age?” Sebastian asked.

“Believe it or not, I got this from the Bible.”

Sebastian laughed. “I don’t think the Bible talks about baking cookies.”

“No, but it does talk about backing up our words with action. It tells us to show the truth of our love not only through what we say, but what we do. Think of it like this. The Bible says that God loved the world and that He gave His only Son, Jesus. God doesn’t just say He loves us. He backs it up with action. And we need to do more than just say nice things to people. We need to do things that show them we care—not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day.”

Sebastian pulled a fresh piece of paper from his desk drawer.

“What are you doing now?” Dad asked.

“Tell me that poem about baking cookies again,” said Sebastian. “I want to remake this card and then go put a batch of cookies in the oven.”

–Jared Hottenstein

How about you? Do you say kind words to people and tell them you care about them? That’s great, but don’t forget to back up the truth of your words with action. God wants us to build others up with our words, but He also wants us to live out our faith in what we do as well as what we say. Love others like Jesus by letting them know you care through both your words and your actions.

Today's Key Verse: Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Live out love

Read: James 4:13-15

When Journey and her dad clapped their hands and shouted loudly, two barn swallows quickly flew out of the garage, their tails looking like forks against the blue sky. “Why can’t we let them nest in the garage, Dad?” Journey asked as she watched the birds fly over a neighbor’s house and disappear.

“Our garage wouldn’t be a safe place to raise baby birds,” said Dad. “See what happens when the garage door is closed?” He pressed a button to lower the garage door. Instantly, it became dark, and the cool breeze was gone.

Journey nodded. “Our garage would get too hot for them, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, and not just that. When the door is closed, the mother and father birds wouldn’t be able to go in and out and bring food for the baby birds.” Dad opened the garage door and let the cooler air back in.

“I guess they’ll have to change their plans and find a new home—just like we had to change our plans and find a new home when we moved here.” Journey sighed. “Sometimes I wish our plans hadn’t gotten changed. I like living here, but I miss my old school and the friends I had there.”

Dad nodded. “Mom and I liked where we lived before too. We were surprised when my company wanted us to move here, but I’m sure we’ll grow to like it.” He leaned against the wall and thought for a minute. “We can make our plans, Journey, but like the Bible says, it’s the Lord who determines our steps—and we want to follow Him wherever He leads us.”

“But why would God want us to move?”

“Why did we chase those birds out of the garage?” Dad asked.

“Well, because we know they need to build their nest someplace else,” Journey replied.

“Right. The birds don’t understand that, but we know it’s best. And we don’t know why God would want us to move, but because He loves us so much that Jesus died for us, we can trust Him to know what’s best—even when it doesn’t make sense to us.”

“I know,” Journey said. “And I’m thankful He’s with us and promises to help us through the things we don’t understand.”

Dad smiled. “Me too.”

–Mary F. Watkins

How about you? Is it hard for you to accept a change in your plans? It’s good to plan ahead, but remember that God is the one in control and that your plans may have to change in order for Him to do what’s best. Trust Him to work things out for your good, knowing He’s with you and will always help you through any difficult changes in your life.

Today's Key Verse: We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Accept God’s plans for you