Scott watched his Mom carefully plant some pansies in her flower garden. <br><br>'Every flower looks like a little face,' Scot said.

'They do,' Mom replied. 'They remind me of little children.'

Scott laughed. 'Children don't have yellow or blue faces.'

'But there are many with different colored skin.' Mother straightened up. 'The world is like God's people garden, Scott. People are different.'

'You mean like Jason?' Scot asked. 'He's a different color.'

'Yes he is,' Mom said. 'God likes color and variety. And God loves all of us, no matter the color. The Bible says, 'God loved the world.''

'If God loves everybody does that mean everybody will go to heaven when they die?'

'If they believe in Jesus and trust Him,' Mom responded. 'Everybody who believes in Jesus and trusts Him will be in heaven.'

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me enough to die for me. Help me to love others and tell them You love them, too. Amen.

Sally Smith. Ontario, Canada.

'Don't pull out the potato plants,' Mom called from the porch.

'Okay, Mom.' Helen skipped to the garden and ran along the row to the potato patch. She was going to fetch her favorite supper; a dish of boiled new potatoes. Mom would cook them, smother them with white sauce, and add lots of freshly picked peas.

Finding the two biggest plants, Helen dug with her hands until she got to the roots. She pulled five potatoes off the root, and then heaped the earth back so the root was protected. She did the same with the second plant, uncovering the root then digging her fingers into the soil to pull out a potato. She felt something mushy ooze between her fingers. Her hand was plastered with rotten potato.'Mom!' Helen rushed to the tap by the side of the house. 'Look what I found under the plant.'

Mom smiled as Helen washed her hands. 'This rotten potato is the one we planted for seed. The new potato plant sprouted from it.' Mom's voice turned serious. 'You know, Helen, this rotten potato reminds us of a great Bible truth.'

'What's that, Mom?' Helen wanted to know.

'A new plant came because this potato died. The Bible says it's like that with us. Our physical body dies, but when Jesus comes again, we are raised a spiritual body.'

'Wow!' Helen looked at the remains of the rotten potato, then at the lovely big new potato plant. Then she took Mom's hand and walked into the house with the potatoes she had picked.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for Your promise that we will be raised with glorious new bodies when Jesus comes. Amen.

Frieda Martens. Winnipeg, Canada.

Peter knocked at the door and a girl named Rhoda came. She knew Peter's voice right away and was so happy she forgot to open the door. She ran back to tell the others, 'Peter's at the door.'

'No,' they said. 'Can't be. You imagine it. Or maybe it's Peter's spirit.' They knew Peter was in jail. Maybe they thought Herod had already killed Peter. They were praying for Peter's release and safety - but they didn't seem to think that God had already answered their prayers.

Peter kept knocking. Finally, they opened the door. Sure enough, it was Peter. Everybody was astonished.

When they settled down, Peter told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He also told them to spread the word of his release to other followers of Jesus. Then Peter left to go somewhere else. He knew Herod would be mad when he found out, and Peter didn't want to get others into trouble for helping him.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You hear and answer prayer, even when we hardly expect it. Amen.

Peter must have slept very well. When God sent His angel to help Peter, the angel had to give Peter more than a polite prod with his fingers to waken Peter. Peter needed a good smack on the side to wake him up.

'Arise quickly!' the angel said. Peter lifted his arms to show the chains that held him - and his chains fell off!

Then the angel said, 'Get dressed and follow me.'

Peter thought he was dreaming. What a nice dream. He and the angel walked past the first set of guards. Then, the second set of guards. Out through the iron gates and into the city where his friends were praying.

It wasn't a dream! They got to a certain street and the angel left. Peter knew exactly which house the prayer meeting was being held in. He went there, and knocked on the door. Wouldn't the people be glad to see that God had set Peter free?

Prayer: Lord, thank You that there is no power like Your power. And Your power protects me. Amen.

In Peter's day (just like today), it wasn't easy to be a follower of Jesus. The ruler, Herod, hated Christians. He had no reason to hate Christians. But people who do not love Jesus often hate those who do.

God let Herod put Peter in jail. God knew that Herod planned for Peter to be killed. But God had His own plans.

When other people who followed Jesus heard about Peter being in jail, they met together to pray. It seems they prayed all night. What do you think they were praying for? Probably, they prayed that Peter would be set free, or at least that Peter would come to no harm in jail. Maybe they prayed that Peter would tell other people in jail about Jesus.

Sixteen soldiers guarded Peter so there was no way he could escape. He had chains on his arms with a soldier chained to him on each side. The other soldiers stood at the doors with their weapons ready.

Peter didn't stay awake wondering if Herod would be able to harm him, or if his friends' prayers would help. Peter made his chains comfortable, lay down, and went to sleep. God was in charge. That was good enough for Peter.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to rest in Your care and let You look after me. Amen.