This is Hug an Australian Day.

You’ve had a rough day. According to your teachers, you couldn’t do anything right. Then, one of your best friends got mad at you for something you didn’t say. And to top it off, you can’t find your favorite CD and are afraid it’s lost. So you walk in your house, head down, frustrated and discouraged. Dropping your books on the kitchen table, you slump into a chair.

Then your mom comes in, sits next to you, and gives you a hug. Now don’t you feel better?

Hugs can do that. Of course, you still have to do your homework, call your friend to make things right, and look for your CD. But, for a while, your spirit would rise, and you’d feel like your old self again.

Hugs work. When we hug people, we let them know that we care and that we will stand with them. Hugs also say, “I like you—you’re OK” and “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here.”

Guess what? Hugs are biblical too. Our verse today says to “greet one another with a holy embrace”—a hug!

You don’t have to look for an Australian (although that would be fine). Almost anyone will do. You mom, dad, brother, sister, friend, teacher, classmate, new student, neighbor, and many others would love it.

Greet one another with a holy embrace (2 Corinthians 13:12, The Message).

To Do

Hug at least three people today.

Also on this day . . .

1514—Copernicus made his first observations of Saturn.

1607—The British established an American colony at Cape Henry, Virginia. It was the first permanent English establishment in the Western Hemisphere.

1803—Thousands of meteorites fell on the town of L’Aigle in France.

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 San Francisco in 1945 50 nations organized the United Nations.

From its very beginning the vision of the United Nations has always been to have a place where countries could work out their differences and meet global challenges together—where all nations would be “united.”

That’s a good idea. And, through the years, this famous institution has had successes and setbacks in trying to reach its goals. The main roadblock to success is the simple fact that leaders of some countries don’t want to cooperate, to compromise, or to reach a solution. They may talk about peace while planning for war. They may pretend to promote freedom while keeping people enslaved. They may act as though they’re all for what’s right while doing what is wrong.

Daily newscasts and other reports make it clear that wars, terrorism, and atrocities will be with us for a while. And we can get discouraged.

Eventually, however, all those terrible things will end. Peace will come, and people of every race and nation will live together as one.

“When?” you ask. When Christ returns.

The Book of Revelation tells about the future. In it the apostle John wrote what God had revealed to him. When you read this book, you’ll see that God is in control and that he will win the battle against Satan and evil. Today’s verse tells us that “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language” will stand before God and worship him together. Now that’s unity.

So don’t get discouraged by negative news and nations divided. Remember God’s promise to bring us all together under his rule.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands (Revelation 7:9).

To Do

Today, pray for peace. Be specific, mentioning each of the troubled nations in the news.

Also on this day . . .

This is World’s Penguin Day

1684—A patent was granted for the thimble.

1859—ork began on the Suez Canal in Egypt.

1953—U.S. Senator Wayne Morse ended the longest speech in U.S. Senate history. The speech on the Offshore Oil Bill lasted 22 hours and 26 minutes.

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 1981, the IBM Personal Computer was introduced.

How often do you use a computer? Before answering, remember the computers at your school, in cars and appliances, and in your PDA. These days, computers are everywhere. Not too long ago, they were rare. In fact, you probably know an older person who finds computers very confusing and intimidating. But not you—they’ve always been part of your life. And they sure have revolutionized the way we work, learn, and relate to others.

We live in what has been called “the information age.” We have more information about more things than previous generations could ever imagine. We have so many TV channels we find it difficult to choose one to watch. The Internet is amazing, and everywhere we turn we see cameras and computers. News broadcasters make sure we know just about everything that’s going on in the world, and often we see it happening live.

So we might get the idea that technology is the greatest power in the world. Wrong!

Only God knows everything. Beyond facts and events, he knows thoughts, desires, emotions, and motives. He knows every hidden dream and sin. He knows the past, the present, and the future, and he sees everything in the universe at the same time. When he was reflecting on God’s knowledge the writer of Psalm 44 exclaimed, “God knows the secrets of every heart.”

Some people may feel as though they don’t want God to know all their secrets. But it’s good news for those who are comforted knowing God knows what they’re going through. And what makes this even better news is the fact that God loves us.

Did you get that? He knows you and still loves you. That means God wants the very best for your life. It means that you can trust him to guide you the right way, his way.

Now that computes!

God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21).

To Do

Take a few minutes to read Psalm 139 and then Romans 8:28-39. Thank God for knowing you, loving you, and being with you everywhere.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich month.

This is also National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day—so have a picnic.

1833—A patent was granted for the first soda fountain.

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 1896 the first movie was shown in a theater in New York City.

Ever since the first silent film flickered across the silver screen, men, women, boys, and girls have watched with delighted imagination. Whether for a cartoon or a comedy, a romance, western, or space adventure, we’ve regularly filled theaters in every city and town across the country.

Movies are fun and entertaining because they capture us and entertain us. The professional acting, stirring music, and spectacular scenes draw us into the story. We’ve grown up with movies, and we see them, daily now, on televisions, videos, DVDs, and computers.

We know that movies aren’t real, of course. But sometimes we can feel as though we’re watching truth unfold because it is so real. Sometimes we’re shocked to learn that the writer, producer, or director of a movie made up things and put them in a movie advertised as a true story. Sometimes movies based on history are more fiction than fact.

After watching a movie some people say something like, “Now I know what really happened.” Instead, we should be thinking, “That was interesting. I wonder if that’s what really happened.” In other words, we shouldn’t accept as fact everything projected on a screen.

That’s especially important with movies and other media about Jesus and people in the Bible. Our authority should be the Bible, not a movie, book, or video. We can enjoy the presentation, but we should check the facts.

Today’s passage tells about the people of Berea. After listening to Paul and Silas preach, they compared the message with Scripture, to see is it made sense and was true. God’s Word was their guide.

So go ahead and enjoy your video entertainment. But know the difference between what’s real and what’s not.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth (Acts 17:11).

To Do

Check out one or two of these websites that review movies: www.pluggedinonline.com; www.gospelcom.net/ifc; www.botcw.com; www.movieguide.org. Use the reviews to help you choose a movie to see and to know whether or not it sticks to the facts.

Also on this day . . .

1564—William Shakespeare was born.

1977—Dr. Allen Bussey completed 20,302 yo-yo loops.

1985—The Coca-Cola Company announced that it was changing its 99-year-old secret formula. New Coke was not successful, which resulted in the resumption of selling the original version.

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 Earth Day.

Earth Day was established in 1970 by John McConnell to, in his words, “celebrate the wonder of life on our planet.”

Some believers wonder why Christians should be concerned about “celebrating life” and taking care of the environment. Today’s passage tells us why.

First, the Bible tells how God created the heavens and the earth. Then God said it was “excellent in every way.” That means the earth is God’s and that it’s good.

Next, we read about the natural order of creation. Plants, birds, fish, grass, fruit, animals, and humans are all mentioned, and each has a place and purpose.

Then check out God’s instructions to Adam and Eve: “subdue” the earth and “be masters.”

So here’s the deal. God has given us humans a beautiful planet on which to live. It is filled with amazing natural resources to use. But he expects us to be wise and careful in how we treat the water, soil, plants, and animals—our home and our resources. Elsewhere in the Bible, God says that we must be good managers of what he has entrusted to us. (See Luke 12:42-48.) This means no wasting or polluting. And it certainly means taking good care of ourselves and our world.

What can you do to be a better earth manager?

God blessed them and told them, “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.” And God said, “Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their food.” And so it was. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day (Genesis 1:28-31).

To Do

Take a walk through your neighborhood and pick up trash. And encourage your family to recycle.

Also on this day . . .

1864—The United States Congress mandated that all coins minted as U.S. currency bear the inscription, “In God We Trust.”

1994—On this day the world’s largest lollipop, weighing 3,011 pounds, was made in Denmark.

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 1959, the largest fish ever hooked by a rod and reel, a great white shark weighing 2,264 pounds, was caught.

You’re fishing with your dad out in the ocean. The sky is clear, the weather warm, and the sea calm. Your line is in the water, but mostly you’re just catching rays. Then wham! Something hits your bait and almost knocks you off your seat. And for several hours you fight what turns out to be a huge white shark . . . and finally you land him.

Now pretend you’re the shark. You’re a lean, mean, fighting and eating machine. Being gigantic, you go wherever you want and eat whatever you can gather into your wide jaws. Gliding fearlessly through the deep, you spot a delicious morsel just ahead and above. So you grab it in one big swallow. Then wham! Something bites into your gullet and pulls back—you’re hooked. You fight like crazy, pulling the line and boat in circles, all one ton of you, but you can’t get free. You’re caught.

That’s how temptation always works. We glide through life and spot something we want to have or do. Ignoring possible dangers, we bite and swim away. But then, wham!, we feel the hook. Temptations, like taking something that doesn’t belong to us, smoking or drinking alcohol, making fun of someone, and other “tasty morsels,” may seem okay, but they come with hooks.

So when you spot something that looks good but you think it may be bad, or you’re not sure, don’t take the bait. Leave it alone and “swim” away as fast as you can.

Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death (James 1:14–15).

To Do

What tempts you? Talking about someone else? Looking at a classmate’s test paper to get a better grade? Watching movies you know are off-limits? Get a fishhook and glue it to the center of an index card and write “James 1:14, 15” at the bottom. On the flip side write down your biggest temptation. Put your creation on your wall or desk so you’ll see it every day.

Also on this day . . .

753 b.c—.Tradition says that on this day Rome was founded.

1789—John Adams was sworn in as the first U.S. Vice President.

1956—Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” became his first number one hit on this day.

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 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.