This is National Boy Scouts Day.

The Boy Scouts of America is about 100 years old. You may not know much about the organization, but you’ve probably heard their motto: “Be prepared.”

That’s great advice for Scouts who are hiking and camping. The equipment needs to be in good shape, the food and other supplies need to be gathered, and everyone needs to be organized. Heading out for adventure unprepared could bring serious problems.

But that motto gives great advice for non-Scouts and for the rest of life, too. Good preparation is important for students in school, for athletes on teams, for workers on the job, for anyone who wants to do be successful and do something well.

When talking to his followers, Jesus used the same expression: Be prepared. He was explaining that he would ascend to heaven after his resurrection and that he would come to earth a second time in the future. He made the point that no one knows the exact time of his second coming, so they should always be prepared for it.

Being prepared for Christ’s return means living as though he might come at any moment. A good way to do this is to ask, “Would I like to be doing this when Jesus returns?” If you have a close walk with God and you spend time with him through prayer and Bible reading, you can look forward to Jesus’ second coming as a wonderful, exciting day, and the beginning of eternity with him in heaven.

So what about it—are you prepared?

So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42).

To Do

Read Matthew 24:1-30. On a sheet of paper, list all the signs of the second coming of Christ.

Also on this day . . .

This is Kite Flying Day.

1693—A charter was granted for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

1922—The White House began using the radio after President Harding had it installed.

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 Charles Dickens Day.

Charles Dickens was a famous English author who lived from 1812 to 1870. Dickens’ writings include A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and David Copperfield. One of Dickens’ most well-known books, A Tale of Two Cities, tells of the French Revolution and has this famous opening line: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Whenever you hear reports on the evening news you may think that these days are both the best and the worst. All the stories of terrorism, crime, and other terrible problems and conditions make it seem as though things couldn’t be worse. But when you hear of breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and nutrition, and you think, “Life is good!”

The people in Jesus’ day lived in similar times. When Jesus looked around him at all the disobedience and disbelief he pronounced the times evil. But then he hinted at what would be the most significant event in history and the best news ever proclaimed. Earlier Jesus had said, “For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40). Jesus was predicting his death and resurrection. Through his sacrifice he would break the power of sin and death and give salvation to the evil world.

And you know what? He did it!

So whenever you hear all the bad news, remember the Good News. Jesus came; Jesus lived; Jesus died for our sins; Jesus rose from the dead; Jesus loves you. That’s the best news in the worst of times.

[Jesus] said, “These are evil times, and this evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. . . . What happens to me will be a sign that God has sent me, the Son of Man, to these people (Luke 11:29–30).

To Do

Ask one person to give you the good news for the day. Then say, “And the best news is that Jesus lives . . . and he rocks!”

Also on this day . . .

1817—Frederick Douglass, a leader in the anti-slavery movement and an advisor to President Lincoln, was born.

1943—The U.S. government announced that shoe rationing would go into effect in two days.

1984—Space shuttle astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart made the first untethered space walk.

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 Pay a Compliment Day.

What a switch! Yesterday we discussed disasters, and today we look at the bright side.

And that’s exactly what a compliment is—looking for something positive in someone else and then telling him or her about it.

Mark Twain said, “I can live a month on one good compliment.” Phrases like, “That’s a nice shirt,” “Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” “I really enjoyed your solo,” and “Your are such a good friend!” are music to our ears—they seem to brighten even a cloudy, rainy day. We feel affirmed and encouraged.

Compliments are easy to give, and they don’t cost anything. You have to wonder why we don’t give more of them.

The Bible passage for today introduces us to a great compliment-giver, a man named Joseph. In fact, he was such a positive person that he was given the nickname Barnabas, which means “Encourager.” Read more about him in the New Testament, and you’ll discover that his encouragement was very important to the Apostle Paul after he became a follower of Christ. So Barnabas’s nickname says a lot about the kind of person he was. It’s sure better than being called “Grouchy,” “Gloomy,” or something similar.

If people who know you best were to give you a nickname based on your attitude, outlook, and actions, what do you think they would choose? Make the switch—be an encourager.

For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus (Acts 4:36).

To Do

In the next 24 hours, compliment five different people (such as family members, friends, or teachers). Be sincere and specific.

Also on this day . . .

1895—Baseball great Babe Ruth was born.

1911—Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40^th president of the United States, was born in Tampico, IL.

1911—The first old-age home for pioneers opened in Prescott, AZ.

1935—The game Monopoly first went on sale.

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 Disaster Day.

Whoever decided to proclaim this disaster day probably had a good reason. Maybe a bunch of bad events piled up at this time of the year. Or maybe someone thought, “Why not have all our disasters on one day and get them over with!” (as if that were possible). But we probably wouldn’t hold a Disaster Day party. If this were “No More Disasters Day,” then we’d celebrate!

Everyone has experienced disasters, big and small—those times when things go wrong and life seems to be falling apart. It could be something personal like a relationship dissolving, a prized possession breaking, or a pet dying, or it could be something really big like a tornado, fire, earthquake, or war. Terrible events can do more than ruin our day; they can wreck our lives!

But the news isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s very good. God turns bad events into good (see Romans 8:28) and is able to keep his people from the worst kind of disaster.

The verse for today reminds us of that promise. Jeremiah was a prophet who experienced nothing but disaster from a human point of view. Yet he tells us that God’s plans are good, giving us hope for the future.

So if today, or any day, seems disastrous, remember God’s promises for you and keep trusting in him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

To Do

Take a few minutes and read about the life of Jeremiah. Look in the Bible book with his name as the title, or use another Bible study resource.

Also on this day . . .

1870—The first motion picture was shown to a theater audience in Philadelphia.

1901—Ed Prescot patented the loop-the-loop roller coaster.

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.

Charles Lindbergh (1902) and Rosa Parks (1913) were both born on this day.

Have you ever heard of Charles Lindbergh? What about Rosa Parks? They were very different people, but they shared a couple of important qualities. Each had a goal and the determination to reach it. And they each displayed great courage in pursuing the goal.

Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. On May 21, 1927 he took off from an airport in New York in his little plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis” The plane had only one engine and a propeller, and Lindbergh had none of the sophisticated navigational tools that modern pilots have. With only a magnetic compass, his airspeed indicator, and luck to navigate, Lindbergh flew the 1000-mile trip, often through snow and sleet, and landed in Paris 33 ½ hours after takeoff.

Rosa Park’s journey was much shorter but took just as much courage. As an African American, she was tired of racism and of how she and other African Americans were treated. So on December 1, 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. This violation of the rules sparked a controversy that was a catalyst for the civil rights movement. Rosa’s convictions and courage came from her faith. She says, “I had a very spiritual background, and I believe in church and my faith, and that has helped to give me the strength and courage to live as I did.”

What goals do you have? Maybe you have a big one, like Charles Lindbergh, that you want to achieve one day. Or perhaps, like Rosa, your goal involves making something right in the world.

Ask God to give you the right goals and to give you the courage to achieve them.

I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven (Philippians 3:14).

To Do

Using an index card, list your goals in these categories: Big Life Goals, Day-to-Day Goals: Physical, Social, Mental, Spiritual. Keep the card on your desk as a reminder and motivator.

Also on this day . . .

1894—J.W. Goodrich introduced rubber galoshes (boots) to the public.

1957—Smith-Corona Manufacturing, Inc. of New York began selling portable electric typewriters. The first machine weighed 19 pounds.

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 1995, Col. Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the space shuttle when the Discovery blasted off.

Exploring space has been very important to the United States for many decades. The name of the shuttle, “Discovery,” accurately describes the goal of all of our rocket launches, orbital missions, visits to the moon, space walks, space stations, and space shuttles. We want to discover what’s out there—in our solar system and beyond. Because of the space program, words like “launch,” “probe,” “orbit,” and “re-entry” have become common. And our new heroes include Shepherd, Grissom, Glenn, Armstrong, Aldrin, Ride, McAuliffe, Husband, and many more—Eileen Collins, too.

People have always been fascinated with space. Looking up on a clear night, away from city lights, can feel awesome and overwhelming. Countless twinkling stars and planets fill our field of vision. And in considering the millions of miles to the nearest star, we can feel pretty small and almost insignificant.

But get this: The Creator of everything—each planet, galaxy, quasar, and quark—is also the creator of our tiny planet, Earth. And he takes a special interest in each and every one of the billions of people who live here. That includes you.

Not only did God make you, but he also loves you. To prove it, he came to earth, becoming a person just like you, to die for you (check out John 3:16). So you’re pretty special after all.

Many people haven’t yet made that discovery. We don’t need a space shuttle to find God. We’ll never be able to understand everything about God, who he is, and why he does what he does. But the real discovery is knowing that he lives and that he loves and cares for us.

So look to the skies and celebrate!

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery! (Psalm 145:3).

To Do

Tonight after dark go outside and look into the skies. Try to count the stars. Think about God and thank him for letting you discover his love.

Also on this day . . .

1894—Norman Rockwell, the famous painter, was born.

1959—Rock singers Buddy Holly (22), Ritchie Valens (17), and the “Big Bopper” (28) died in a plane crash in Iowa.

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 Groundhog Day.

The crowd grows larger and more excited by the minute. And as the time draws near, they push forward, each person trying to get a good look. Then the creature emerges—it’s dark and furry, bigger than a squirrel, about the size of a small dog, and built close to the earth. Taking a few hesitant steps on this cloudy morning, it seems bold and in no hurry to return to its hole. And the crowd cheers.

The place? Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The occasion? Groundhog Day. Tradition holds that if the groundhog sees its shadow and is frightened back into its hole, then we’ll have six more weeks of winter. But if it doesn’t run scared, we’ll have an early spring. At least that’s the idea—the hope.

By February, people who have to struggle with the cold, ice, and snow of winter are tired of it all. They want spring to come early, the sooner the better. So they celebrate with Punxsutawney Phil and the crowd and hope.

Everyone needs hope. Imagine winter without spring, night without morning, school with no vacation, or sickness without the possibility of getting well. People without hope become very discouraged.

The Bible talks a lot about hope because God offers hope to everyone who believes—hope for forgiveness and for eternal life. And because God is the one offering the hope, we know it’s true and real.

So when you feel like you’re in an endless winter, remember God. Look up to him and hope. You can do this anytime—he’s always available—and you don’t have to wait for a furry animal to make its move.

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises (Romans 15:4).

To Do

Draw an arrow on a piece of paper. Make it about two inches wide and eight inches long. Write HOPE on the arrow and pin it to your bulletin board in your room, pointing up. Use it to remind you to look up to God for hope.

Also on this day . . .

1802—The first leopard to be exhibited in the United States was shown by Othello Pollard in Boston, Massachusetts.

1863—Samuel Langhorne Clemens used a different name for himself for the first time. He is better remembered by that name—Mark Twain.

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 Robinson Crusoe Day.

Robinson Crusoe is probably the best-known “survivor” of all time. This man ended up alone on an island after his ship wrecked. He had no TV, phone, DVDs, video games or CDs—pretty boring, right? Absolutely not! You can read the exciting story of his adventures in the book by Daniel Defoe.

Suppose you, like Robinson Crusoe, were marooned on an island, cut off from family, friends, and the rest of civilization. What would you like to have with you to help you survive? How could you make it through those long, lonely days and nights?

A knife would come in handy. And how about dry matches, a raincoat, and fishing hooks—those sure would be good to have. But here’s another suggestion: your Bible. That’s right. You also would have to survive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Having God’s Word would help you stay in close contact with him. The Bible’s stories, teachings, and promises would give you hope and encouragement. In fact, many other “survivors” (including prisoners of war) have said that Bible reading and prayer helped them hold on until their rescue.

How many Bibles do you have? How often do you read God’s Word? Instead of taking it for granted, pretend that, like Robinson Crusoe, you live on an island and need to survive. Then read the Bible, looking for hope and for direction and, of course, for God.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103, New International Version).

To Do

Commit to reading the Bible regularly—a passage or a chapter a day. Keep a record of God’s “Survival Tips.”

Also on this day . . .

1790—The U.S. Supreme Court convened for the first time in New York City.

1862—”The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” by Julia Ward Howe was first published in the Atlantic Monthly.

1900—Eastman Kodak Co. introduced the $1 Brownie box camera.

1957—P.H. Young became the first black pilot on a scheduled passenger airline.

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.