On this day in 1620, the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.

What would it take for you to pack up all your belongings, leave your home and way of life, and make a dangerous journey to a distant land?

For those travelers from England about 400 years ago, religious freedom was their reason. They knew nothing about the land we now call America—no maps, travel brochures, Internet, or newscasts. It was vast and mysterious. And they didn’t have huge ocean liners or airplanes that could transport them safely and comfortably in a matter of hours. No, they had ships of dubious safety, and they had to endure many days of dangerous ocean travel. But that just shows how important it was to them to have the freedom to worship God as they wanted. They risked everything!

Even today some people still do not enjoy religious freedom. Christians are beaten and even killed in China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, and many other places simply for following Christ.

In America we have no official religion and we can worship Christ freely. In fact, most of our cities and towns have many types of churches in beautiful facilities. We can find a worship service of almost any style that we like.

Yet we often take this freedom for granted, sometimes not going to church because we’re sleepy or the weather’s bad or we just don’t feel like it. Don’t you wonder what those pilgrims would have said about that? What about the people in other lands who desperately seek fellowship, worship, and Bible study?

Thank God for your freedom of religion, and freely worship him!

But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way (John 4:23).

To Do

At church this week, make a list of everything you appreciate about your church—the worship service and the other programs—and thank God for each item on the list.

Also on this day

This is Humbug Day.

1937—Walt Disney debuted the first full-length animated feature in Hollywood, California—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

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 1928, mail delivery by dog sled began in Lewiston, Maine.

Way before the Internet, letters were hand-written and hand-delivered. And if you lived in the country off a snow-covered road, you’d have a tough time getting your mail. If you were expecting only a pile of bills and ads, that might be OK. But if you depended on the postal service to deliver important documents or letters from someone you loved, you wouldn’t be satisfied waiting till spring. And think how you’d greet the mail-delivering dog sled driver! You see the sled in the distance—beautiful! You throw on your coat, hat, boots, and gloves, and run to meet the dogs and driver. It would make your day.

Today’s verse sounds funny because we don’t usually think of feet as beautiful. Isaiah isn’t saying that the person’s feet are physically attractive. When he writes, “How beautiful . . . are the feet of those who bring good news,” he is highlighting what the person is bringing—good news. It would be like you living in the Maine boondocks and seeing the dog sled saying, “What beautiful dogs!” because they were bringing you essential letters.

In this case, the good news on the mountain is God’s peace and salvation. Those words would sound good to anyone, but especially to the people of Israel who had been living as conquered captives.

These days we aren’t living in an occupied land dominated by a foreign dictator. But people are captive in other ways—to sin and to Satan. So God’s message of freedom is wonderful, welcome news. And get this—God has given us, his people, the great privilege of delivering that news. We don’t need dog sleds; we just need to tell others about Jesus when we get the chance.

When we do that, we’ll have beautiful feet!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7).

To Do

When you put on your shoes over the next few days, think of how beautiful your feet are when you deliver the good news about Christ.

Also on this day

This is Games Day.

1606—The Susan Constant, Goodspeed, and Discovery set sail from London. Their landing at Jamestown, Virginia was the start of the first permanent English settlement in America.

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 Oatmeal Muffin Day.

Yesterday was cookies, and today it’s muffins. What is this, baking week?

Most kids probably would say that oatmeal muffins don’t sound too appetizing. They think of oatmeal as a bland and mushy breakfast cereal. Besides, oatmeal muffins are probably good for you, right? That means they must taste bad.

You’ve been down this road before—being told about something you should eat, even if it doesn’t sound very tasty. Certain vegetables, liver, and bran all fit in this category. For some kids, eating those foods is like taking medicine. But at least with medicine you see results. The benefits of eating the right foods may not be seen for many years.

That’s why you eat in faith. You pop those brussels sprouts in your mouth, trusting that what your mother, father, or grandparents says is true. You know they love you and want the best for you (and they have more experience and knowledge), so you grimace and eat.

We can face a similar situation in relation to God. The Bible explains that certain experiences and actions are important for our spiritual health—like telling the truth even if it hurts, admitting when we’re wrong, spending time every day reading the Bible, befriending the unpopular kid, praying for our enemies, and so forth. They may be hard to swallow, like an oatmeal muffin, but we do them anyway, in faith. God loves us, so we can trust him to give us only what’s best for us, even if it seems distasteful at the time.

That is why we live by believing and not by seeing (2 Corinthians 5:7).

To Do

The next time your mom or dad tells you to eat something because “it’s good for you,” say “thank you,” and eat it without complaining. When they get over the shock and ask why you had such a good attitude for a change, explain that you are “eating by faith.”

Also on this day

1777—General George Washington led his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to camp for the winter.

1887—Jake Kilrain and Jim Smith fought in a bare knuckles fight that lasted 106 rounds and 2 hours and 30 minutes. The fight was ruled a draw and was halted due to darkness.

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 Bake Cookies Day.

Yum! Yum! Nothing beats Christmas cookies right out of the oven. Which ones are your favorites: Gingerbread men? Peanut blossoms? Sugar? Shortbread? Spritz? Jam Thumbprints? Pecan Tassies?

If you’ve ever made cookies, you know the steps. First you get all the ingredients together. Next, you mix them in the right order (dry first, and then wet). Then you form the cookies. Finally, you bake them. Then you’re ready for the best step—you eat them.

But have you ever bitten into a cookie that was half-baked? Not too good. They have to spend time in the oven, just the right time, to be perfect.

Not only does heat help us prepare food to eat; but heat also helps make steel, form diamonds from coal, and remove impurities. The Bible uses that last one as an illustration of how believers can grow strong in their faith.

We can experience many kinds of “heat” in life. Persecution is one kind. That’s when people make fun of us or even try to hurt us because of our faith. Another kind of heat involves the challenges of living, like the pressure you feel in school before a big test and when you have to make an important decision. Heat can also come from life’s troubles—sickness, setbacks, injuries, broken possessions and relationships.

Life’s heat can help us become all that God intended. The heat can remove impurities, like purifying gold. It can make us strong and durable, like in forging iron and steel. And it can make us appealing and tasty, like a Christmas cookie.

So instead of running from troubles or whining about them, look for what God is doing with you in his kitchen.

For everyone will be purified with fire (Mark 9:49).

To Do

Ask a parent or older sibling to make cookies with you. Then make special ones for the family and a few dozen more to give to people in the neighborhood. Use the experience to remind you of God making you just right.

Also on this day

1898—A new automobile speed record was set at 39 mph.

1936—Su-Lin, the first giant panda to come to the U.S. from China, arrived in San Francisco, California. The animal was sold to the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois for $8,750.

1965—Kenneth LeBel jumped 17 barrels on ice skates.

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 1791, New York City established the first one-way street.

After getting your driver’s license you’ll become very aware of traffic signs: Stop, Yield, No U-Turn, Construction Zone, and many more. These signs keep traffic orderly. One of the most important is One Way. Certain streets have been given that designation to allow more vehicles to go faster in one direction. It’s a terrible mistake to drive the wrong way on a one-way street. It’s frightening and dangerous to suddenly have all the cars coming toward you.

Since 1791, most drivers are OK with one-way streets. But many people have trouble accepting the idea of having a single way in other areas of life, especially in spiritual matters. Someone might say, “There are many ways to God” or “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.” That may sound good, but it’s sincerely wrong.

You remember Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Clearly he was claiming to be the one way, the only way. But to many that seems narrow and just not right. They don’t want anyone, especially Jesus, to make that claim because they want to make their own way.

What if you drove like that? You come to a street marked One Way and you say, “Oh, no you don’t—I’m going my way!” Or you come to a bridge marked, “The only way across the river,” and you say, “I don’t believe it! I’m going downstream five miles and cross there!” Possible consequences are a collision with another car, a traffic ticket, or wasted time getting lost or backtracking.

Instead of rebelling against God’s one way to Heaven we should say, “Thank you, Lord, for providing a way, the only way!” Then drive God’s way.

But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God’s promise is to believe in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:22).

To Do

Go to the mall and buy a One Way sign (that looks like a traffic sign). Or you can make one, using white cardboard and a black felt-tip pen. Hang it in your room to remind you that Jesus is God’s “One Way.”

Also on this day

This is Aviation Day.

1903—Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

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 Chocolate Covered Anything Day.

How much do you like chocolate? Some people call themselves “chocoholics” because they are almost addicted to the sweet treat. They grab anything chocolate and have trouble controlling the urge. They would love this day. To them, “chocolate covered anything” sounds wonderful.

But is it? Chocolate covered nuts are OK. And cherries. And just about everyone likes cake, cookies, or ice cream covered in chocolate. But how would you like to bite into a chocolate covered onion, or cockroach, or dirt ball, or brussels sprout? Eeeewww! As your tongue hits the chocolate, you think, This is great. But then you reach what it covers and you spit it out faster than you can say Willie Wonka. What’s on the inside matters; in fact, it’s more important than the sweet covering.

Life can be like that too. It’s good to be sweet and nice on the outside. And we should try to be positive, pleasant, and fun to be around. But sometimes an appealing exterior can hide a difficult person. And if we are fooled by a phony exterior, when we learn the truth we can feel hurt and cheated.

One day Jesus encountered a group of religious leaders who were giving him a hard time and trying to trip him up. They looked great on the outside, all dressed up and saying all sorts of good-sounding religious words. But inside they were pretty bad. So Jesus told them the truth about themselves. Read his harsh language in today’s verse.

The lesson is clear: we should be careful about what’s on the inside of our lives, even more than the outside. God wants genuine people—no phonies—whose hearts are right, who truly love and obey him.

How are you on the inside?

How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity (Matthew 23:27).

To Do

In honor of this day, get yourself a chocolate covered treat. As you enjoy the candy, think of how you can be more Christ-like in your thoughts, motives, and attitudes.

Also on this day

1773—Colonial patriots, dressed like Indians, dumped nearly 350 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. This is now known as the Boston Tea Party.

1901—The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter was printed for the first time.

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 1654, a meteorological office established in Tuscany, Italy, began recording daily temperature readings.

How often does your family check the weather forecast? It’s virtually impossible to miss because all the radio stations give regular updates. And you can get the latest from the meteorologists on TV. If you’re really into temperatures, fronts, and isobars, you can watch the Weather Channel.

Knowing the weather helps us prepare. If a winter blast is predicted, complete with ice, snow, and howling winds, we bundle up from head to toe and stock up on hot chocolate for when we come in from the cold. And in the summer when we learn of a coming heat wave, we wear shorts, make sure the air conditioning is working, and get those cold drinks and ice ready.

Today’s verse isn’t about weather, but it does touch on temperatures. Maybe you’ve found it confusing. So switch gears here and think of hot and cold drinks.

Let’s say you’ve been out in the cold, shoveling snow. You’re freezing and tired. You come in and your mom says, “How’d you like some hot chocolate?” You eagerly take the mug and put it to your lips expecting the sweet hot liquid to warm you up. But it’s lukewarm instead. How awful!

Or imagine it’s summer and you’ve finished playing ball. You reach into the cooler, pull out a juice bottle, and take a swig. It’s lukewarm—yuck!

God wants believers to be “hot” or “cold”—fully committed. Lukewarm just doesn’t cut it. But sometimes followers of Jesus are just that—lukewarm. Blah. Bored. Blended into society.

So what’s your temperature? How do you think you “taste” to God?

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15, 16).

To Do

Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate or hot tea. As you drink it, ask God to help you be hot for him.

Also on this day

This is National Bill of Rights Day.

This is One Day! Day.

1939—The movie Gone With the Wind, based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, premiered at Loew’s Grand Theater in Atlanta.

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 1999, Charles M. Schulz announced that he was retiring his Peanuts comic strip.

“Good grief!” says Charlie Brown, commenting on his latest misadventure. Charlie, his sister Sally, his friends Linus, Pigpen, Lucy, Schroeder, and Peppermint Patty, and his dog Snoopy are characters featured in the Peanuts comic strip.

Your newspaper may still carry Peanuts. Although it officially ended after 18,000 strips on February 13, 2000, many newspapers reprint it. Charlie the lovable loser never seems to get it right, whether playing baseball, kicking a football, picking a Christmas tree, or trying to impress the mysterious little red-haired girl. And with each misadventure he exclaims, “Good grief!” The comic strip was wildly successful probably because most people could identify with Charlie. We all have days when nothing seems to go right, and we sigh, “Good grief!”

That’s a strange expression, isn’t it? What could possibly be good about grief? Grieving means loss and sorrow and tears. It seems to be the opposite of good. Putting those two words together is like combining “high low,” “empty full,” or “friend enemy.” Right?

Well, yes and no. The Bible points out how sorrow can actually be good for us.

Consider today’s verse in which Paul explains that “God can use sorrow in our lives” for good. If you’ve been punished for doing something wrong, for example, you know that your sorrow and bad feelings taught you a valuable lesson. Or if you have been injured while doing something and then realize it could have been much worse, then you actually feel glad about the injury, even though it hurts. So grief can be good after all, especially if it pushes us away from sin and toward God.

For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death (2 Corinthians 7:10).

To Do

Think back over the past year and list the “sorrows” that have been good. What lessons did you learn? In what ways was your grief good? Review Romans 8:28.

Also on this day

This is Yuletide Lads Day in Iceland, so if you’re traveling there, be prepared to celebrate.

1799—George Washington died at the age of 67.

1918—For the first time in Britain, women voted in a general election.

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 1843, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was published.

Since we’re moving quickly toward Christmas, it won’t be long till you’ll see a version of A Christmas Carol. You probably know the story well. Featuring Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley’s Ghost, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future, through whom Scrooge learns the real meaning of Christmas.

Do you remember Scrooge’s famous phrase? That’s right—”Bah! Humbug!” he would say whenever someone tried to get him in the Christmas spirit.

Have you ever felt like Scrooge? Have you grown tired of all the carols and crowds, or run short of money with presents still to buy? Are you afraid you won’t be getting what you really want for Christmas? Are you stressed with the added activities and responsibilities? Are you tempted to say, “Humbug”?

That’s when we need to remember Christmas past. No, we don’t need a visit from a fictional ghost; we just need to remember the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.

Our verse for today says it all: “God with us.” Christmas celebrates the greatest gift ever given—God himself in human flesh.The wise men presented gifts to baby Jesus. And for centuries Christians have exchanged gifts in his honor.

Christmas is all about the giving, not the getting. And when we give to family, friends, and others, we should expect nothing in return. Our giving should be a response, not a habit or a way to get.

So get through those humbug feelings and find the truth in this season. And don’t forget to “Thank God for his Son—a gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us) Matthew 1:23.

To Do

Buy an extra gift for someone who really needs it. Give it anonymously (without putting your name on it), and don’t ever let him or her know that you were the giver.

Also on this day

This is Bicycle Built for Two Day.

1759—The first music store in America opened.

2000—U.S. Vice President Al Gore conceded the 2000 Presidential election to Texas Governor George W. Bush.

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 1925, The Motel Inn, the first motel in the world, opened in San Luis Obispo, California.

Think back to your last family trip. Did you stay at a motel along the way? Even if you didn’t, you probably saw a bunch of them. We’ve come a long way since the first motel in 1925. Now national motel chains, independent motels, bed and breakfasts, and hotels dot the landscape. So every night millions of travelers must need places to stay.

Way back before motels, like in Bible times, travelers would sleep outside or in the few available inns. Remember when Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem? Mary “gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn” (Luke 2:7).

Often travelers, even strangers, would be welcomed into homes where they could stay the night for free. The Bible says that Christians are expected to show hospitality toward others. Paul wrote: “When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night” (Romans 12:13).

Showing hospitality means being kind to strangers, helping people in need, and even opening our homes when we can. In fact, our verse for today implies that when we do this we might even be entertaining angels and not even know it.

You don’t own a house, and you’re probably not going to open a motel any time soon. But still you can be hospitable by being nice to the new kid in the neighborhood, in school, or at church. And you could invite him or her over to your house to hang out and mess around. You would make that “stranger” feel welcome, and you’d be acting like Jesus.

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! (Hebrews 13:2).

To Do

Think of someone new to your school, church, or neighborhood. Go out of your way to be friendly to him or her. And, if the time is right, invite him or her over to your house.

Also on this day

This is Poinsettia Day.

1792—In Vienna, 22-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven received his first lesson in music composition from Franz Joseph Haydn. (Have you practiced the piano today?)

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.