This is National Weed Day.

What is “National Weed Day”? Do you think it was established to honor weeds? Perhaps the person who named this day wanted to remind us to be aware of weeds and to get rid of them. Whatever the case, let’s talk about weeds.

If you’ve ever had a garden or lawn, you know how frustrating weeds can be. They grow fast and thick and can choke out the flowers, grass, or vegetables that you want to grow. If you wait too long, the seeds hit the wind, and soon you have hundreds more weeds to deal with. And they’re almost impossible to eliminate. You keep pulling them, but soon they’re back, like a monster in a bad horror movie.

Gardeners and other plant experts explain that the secret to getting rid of weeds is to attack their roots. In fact, most weeds will spring from even a part of a root left in the ground. That’s why pulling them isn’t always effective. We need to use special sprays and other treatments.

Weeds can grow in our lives as well. When Jesus told the parable of the sower and seeds, he explained that as seeds fall on thorny ground, “all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced” (Matthew 13:22). So if we want to grow in our faith and be productive for Christ, we need to beware of weeds.

Today’s verse carries this a step further. It says that we also should help keep weeds out of the lives of other believers. And one of the worst is the weed of unbelief.

How’s your life garden doing? How about your Christian friends? Ask God to help you blast those roots.

Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God. Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison (Hebrews 12:15).

To Do

Ask your mom or dad if you can help get rid of weeds in the garden. After they get over the shock of your question and answer “yes,” get the weed-killing spray and go to it. And each time you spray, pray! Ask God to remove any roots of sin in your life.

Also on this day . . .

1841—In Philadelphia, PA, Edgar Allen Poe’s story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” was published in Graham’s Magazine. It is considered the first detective story.

1879—The first mobile home (horse drawn) was used in a journey from London.

1934—The movie “Stand Up And Cheer” opened. It was child star Shirley Temple’s debut.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1897 the first annual Boston Marathon was held.

What’s the longest race you’ve ever run? Sprints are short, like racing a friend on the playground or running the 100-yard dash in a track meet. Some races are medium distance—a few times around the track. And some are long, measured in miles. One of the longest races is the marathon, 26.2 miles. And one of the most famous of these races is the Boston Marathon, where every year since 1897, thousands of men and women run through the streets of Boston. The fastest time for a woman in this marathon is 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 43 seconds, run by Margaret Okago from Kenya in 2002. And another Kenyan, Cosmos Ndeti who ran the course in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 15 seconds in 1996, holds the man’s record.

The Bible compares life to a race. Hebrews 12:1 says, “let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.” And today’s verse encourages us to “run in such a way that you will win.”

Some people live as though life is a sprint. They go as hard and as fast as they can. But life is much more like a long-distance race, a marathon. For any race, runners need to prepare, to wear the right clothes and shoes, and to begin when the starting signal sounds. But marathon runners need to run smart so they can finish well.

Young people can find it difficult to imagine life stretching out to seven or eight decades when only the next year seems a long way off. So that’s where faith comes in. We need to listen to God, our coach, and run the race he gives us according to his plan. Then we’ll finish well.

How are you running these days?

Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win (1 Corinthians 9:24).

To Do

Ask someone who has run a marathon to tell you all the training and preparation needed to run and finish well.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Primrose Day.

1775—The American Revolutionary War began.

1939—Connecticut approved the Bill of Rights for the United States Constitution, 148 years late.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1775 Paul Revere went on his famous ride.

A flashing red light. A loud siren. The needle nearing empty on the gas gauge. A “severe weather” bulletin interrupting a TV show. Yellow caution signs on the highway.

Every day signals and signs alert us to watch out and take caution. Sometimes these warnings can be irritating because they interrupt us or slow us down, but we know they’re important.

On this day in 1775, Paul Revere made his famous revolutionary ride. “The British are coming! The British are coming!” he shouted, warning fellow citizens about the oncoming army.

We need warnings. Without them we could rush headlong into trouble. And we’re wise if we heed them. We may have to stop what we’re doing, turn around, and go in another direction.

The Bible gives many warnings—statements beginning with words like, “Watch out,” or “Be careful.” God wants people to know what can hurt them, and he wants them to travel in the right direction.

Today’s verse says to “warn each other.” In other words, in addition to reading and believing the Bible for ourselves, we should pass on God’s warnings to others. This verse also implies that we should encourage fellow believers to live the right way.

Do you know someone who needs to hear God’s warnings? Perhaps a friend is about to do something wrong that will only lead to trouble and pain. Or maybe you know someone who is being led astray. How can you warn against these harmful actions and guide toward right ones?

What can you do to tell people the good news about following Christ and warn them of the bad news about living without him?

You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God (Hebrews 3:13).

To Do

Ask God to give you the opportunity to give a friend or two his warning. Then do it when the opportunity arises.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Animal Crackers Day.

1906—A huge earthquake and fire hit San Francisco.

1949—The Republic of Ireland was established.

1950—The first transatlantic jet passenger trip was completed.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1970 the Apollo 13 space capsule splashed down into the ocean.

How’d you like to be an astronaut? Imagine blasting off into space on a NASA mission, and then, after completing the mission, returning safely to earth. If you heard or read anything about the Apollo 13 mission (or saw the movie), you know how they almost didn’t make it back.

One man said he wouldn’t fly in a space ship or even in an airplane because Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always” (Matthew 29:20, King James Version). He was kidding, of course. “Lo” is not the same as “low.” Jesus was saying that he would always be with his disciples wherever they were and “even to the end of the world.”

And check out our verses for today. Paul writes, “Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s great news!

Think about it. You could blast off from Cape Canaveral and fly to the edge of our solar system, and God would be there. You could get into a diving suit and be lowered deep into the ocean, and God would be there. Distance is nothing to him.

That’s not all. The Bible also promises that no person, angel, or demon can come between us and God. Nothing, nobody, no place, no how can keep us from God and his love.

What an amazing promise!

So no matter what you face today or where you are, remember that God is with you and in you, helping you and giving you peace and courage.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38, 39).

To Do

Tell someone the “Lo, I am with you always” joke. Then say something like this: “Actually, God is with me high and low and everywhere I go. Isn’t that great?”

Also on this day . . .

This is National Cheeseball Day.

1629—Horses were first into the colonies by the American Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1790—Benjamin Franklin died.

1970—Apollo 13 returned to Earth safely after an on-board accident with an oxygen tank.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is National Stress Awareness Day.

Every now and then, a city engineer will report a bridge needing work because of “stress cracks.” The daily pounding of traffic and the years of changing temperature and other forces have taken their toll. If not repaired, the bridge might collapse.

People can experience stress too. Life’s pressures wear on us, making us weak and worried. The signs include headaches, sleep problems, nervousness, and a constant bad mood. Remember when a parent seemed to get mad about every little thing? Later you learned about the tough day at work. The stress led to anger that was taken out on others.

Maybe you’ve had a similar experience. After a rough day at school, with teachers piling on the homework, you learned that a friend was in an accident. Then, on the way home, you had an argument with a friend. And just as you walked in the door, Mom reminded you of all your chores. Talk about stress! Can you feel the pressure, the cracks? No wonder you were in a bad mood.

Life is filled with anxieties, worries, and stresses—we can’t escape them. But we can deal with them. The first step is to be aware of what is causing us stress. Next, the Bible tells us, we should, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you” (1 Peter 5:7). This means praying and giving our stress to our loving heavenly Father. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned about your friend, dive into your school assignments, heal your relationship, or do your chores. It means realizing that God cares about you and your life situations more than you do, and he’s there to help—you can count on him.

So cast your cares on the One who cares.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6).

To Do

Take an index card or a small piece of paper and list all your present cares and worries that cause you stress. Then pray about each item on the list one at a time saying, “I know, Father, that you care about ______ more than I do, so I give this to you. Thank you.”

Also on this day . . .

1867—Wilbur Wright, one half of the airplane-inventor team, was born.

1922—Annie Oakley shot 100 clay targets in a row, to set a women’s record.

1972—Two giant pandas arrived in the United States from China.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is Income Tax Day.

Ask any adult about April 15, and he or she will frown and mumble about income tax. This is the payment deadline. Most people have money taken out of their checks every payday, so they expect to receive refunds. But all citizens, even those who don’t make enough to pay any taxes, are required to fill out the forms, and that can be a pain.

Every level of government has taxes. In addition to income taxes, we pay taxes on property, sales, entertainment, parking, gas, travel, and on and on. No wonder people can feel taxed to death. But how else would the government get money to operate? Our taxes pay for salaries of teachers, police officers, fire fighters, and government workers, the construction and maintenance of roads and highways, schools, libraries, and other government buildings, and much more.

The people of Jesus’ day sure didn’t like paying taxes, especially since they lived under the Romans, a foreign power. And the powerful Roman government could be very cruel. So one day some people who were trying to trick Jesus into saying something that would make the crowds angry with him asked if it was right to pay taxes. Jesus simply answered, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him.” But then he added, “Everything that belongs to God must be given to him.”

Jesus was saying that his followers should honor the government and be good citizens whenever possible. But he was also pointing out that God is a higher authority, over all rulers and governments. In fact, everything belongs to God (not to us or anyone else), including our very lives, so we must give ultimate honor and devotion to him.

What can you do to give back to God what belongs to him?

“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God” (Luke 20:25).

To Do

Ask a parent to explain how taxes work and what it means to be a good citizen.

Also on this day . . .

1452—Leonardo da Vinci was born.

1865—Abraham Lincoln died after being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

1912—The ocean liner Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is International Moment of Laughter Day.

Because this is International Moment of Laughter Day, go ahead—chuckle, giggle, guffaw . . . let it out.

Everyone enjoys a good laugh, but people have differing senses of humor. Some people enjoy puns or word play. Others like physical humor or slapstick, watching someone fall down or get a pie in the face. For some, awkward situations, such as you see in TV situation comedies are humorous. And many enjoy jokes that tell a story and catch them by surprise. Regardless of the source of the humor, doctors report that laughter is good for our health.

So laughing, being happy, and having fun can be great. But you know what’s even better? Joy. Happiness, laughter, and fun can be superficial and hide problems and hurts. As Proverbs 14:13 reminds us, “Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains.” But joy shines out from the inside. Laughter can only last for minutes, while joy can last a lifetime. Happiness depends on “happenings,” but joy comes from knowing that God loves us and that our future is secure in him.

No wonder Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to “always be full of joy in the Lord.”

So think again—what makes you laugh? And what brings you joy?

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).

To Do

Ask a parent, grandparent, or Sunday-school teacher to tell you a good joke. Also, memorize today’s verse, Philippians 4:4.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Pecan Day.

1853—Harriet Tubman began her underground railroad, helping slaves escape.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

In 1796 the first elephant was brought to America from Bengal, India.

Did you hear about the blind men who encountered an elephant? One man held the tail of the animal, so he thought an elephant was like a rope. Another man had his arms wrapped around a leg, so he thought an elephant was like a tree trunk. The third man had hold of the animal’s trunk. There’s no telling what that man thought! Because the men were blind, they couldn’t see the animal and were limited to the part they encountered.

That’s often how it is with people and Jesus. If a person only sees part of Jesus, one aspect of his life, that person might form a wrong opinion of him.

One time Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him. They had a list of answers. They reported that some people said he was a religious radical; some thought Jesus was a spiritual leader; others said he was a great teacher. Those ideas were correct, but each one gave only part of the picture. Then Jesus asked who they, his close followers, thought he was. And Peter gave the right answer: “The Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Today people probably would give similar responses. Everyone seems to have an opinion about Jesus. Some would say that he was a very good man. Others might mention his life-changing teachings and great moral example. Some might even say that Jesus was God’s Son. But the whole picture includes all of that and more. The truth is that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. He came to earth to live a perfect life, to die on the cross for our sins, and to rise from the dead. He’s alive!

Do you have the whole picture?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13–16).

To Do

Go over your list from yesterday (evidence for Jesus’ true identity). Think of how you would have answered Jesus if you had been there that day and Jesus asked you, “Who do you say that I am?”

Also on this day . . .

This is National Peach Cobbler Day.

1743—Thomas Jefferson was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is National Mathematics Education Month.

Since this is National Mathematics Education Month, here’s a test: Take three apples from five apples and how many do you have? The answer: three (that’s how many you took). Now that was a trick question.

In your very first arithmetic classes you learned to add and subtract. You found, for example, that 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 4 = 8, and so forth. And you’ve never forgotten those lessons. They make sense. They’re true. You can take it to the bank!

Things add up in other areas as well, not just in numbers and math. For example, if at a friend’s house you see a dog food dish, a leash, and a bag of dog food, and you hear barking, you conclude that the family has a dog. The evidence is clear—it all adds up.

When we want answers to questions, we look for evidence. Then we add the clues together to discover the truth.

The evidence for the reality of God and Jesus works that way. People may wonder and have questions, but they need to check out the evidence. At the beginning of his Gospel, Luke wrote that he had investigated the evidence and was presenting it to his readers so they could be sure (see Luke 1:1-3).

Then, in today’s passage John, one of Jesus’ closest followers and friends, says he is writing as an eyewitness. John’s conclusion? “He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life.”

God doesn’t want us to check our brains at the door. He says to look closely, investigate, ask, check out the evidence. So don’t get stressed out if you or your friends have questions about faith. When you look at the evidence, you’ll find that it all adds up.

The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life (1 John 1:1).

To Do

Read one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and look for evidence of the true identity of Jesus. Keep track of your findings and share them with a parent.

Also on this day . . .

1861—The Civil War begins with the attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina.

1900—Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. territory.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues (Brooklyn Dodgers).

Watch almost any major sporting event, and you’ll see athletes of a variety of skin colors, races, and nationalities. So you might be surprised to learn that for a long time, the major leagues of professional baseball were open to white people only. Many black players were good enough, but they weren’t allowed. So they played in the “Negro Leagues.”

In 1947, however, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. And he was named “Rookie of the Year!” Just two years later he received the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award. In 1957, Jackie retired from baseball, after helping the Dodgers win six National League championships and one World Series. He was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1962.

Certainly Jackie was a sensational athlete; he was also courageous—that first year he endured a lot of criticism, threats, and taunts. But soon many other African-Americans followed, and the color barrier was obliterated.

Racism (treating people differently because of their race, skin color, or nationality) is wrong and should have no place in our lives. Christians especially should steer away from this sin.

The Bible is very clear about God loving all kinds of people. In fact, the apostle John reports that individuals “from every nation and tribe and people and language” will be included in God’s kingdom (Revelation 7:9). And today’s verse states that we should be unified in Christ.

What separates you from others? Race or skin color shouldn’t. Remember Jackie Robinson and Galatians 3:28, and be the kind of person who is known for love and unity.

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

To Do

Today, go out of your way to get to know a person of another race. This could be a student in one of your classes, a neighbor, or someone at church.

Also on this day . . .

1906—Albert Einstein introduced his Theory of Relativity.

1970—Apollo 13 was launched to the moon.

1986—Dodge Morgan sailed solo nonstop around the world in 150 days.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.