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.

In 1797 Claude Ambroise Seurat, the world’s skinniest man, was born in Troyes, France.

Claude was so skinny he was called “the human skeleton.” He probably was so skinny that he would be marked absent in class, had to move around in the shower to get wet, and would look like a zipper when he turned sideways and stuck out his tongue. Just kidding!

Have you ever felt too thin? How about too fat? We should eat the right foods and exercise, of course, but most Americans are way too concerned about their looks. Comparing ourselves to movie celebrities or magazine models, we never see our bodies and faces as just right.

But God made people of all shapes and sizes. Some people are tall; others are short. Some of us have dark skin; others, light. Certain individuals have long noses, and others have short ones. Some are naturally athletic, and some are gifted in music. Aren’t the differences great? Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all alike?

We can be easily fooled by the way people look on the screen or in ads. Virtually all of those actors and models have had surgery or have taken other extraordinary measures to make themselves look that way. Most people look normal. The next time you’re at a mall, amusement park, or other large gathering, look around. You’ll see a wide variety of God’s creations. And that’s good.

Psalm 139 presents an amazing view of our lives as God sees us. And check out the good news in today’s verse—God watched over us, even before we were born, putting us together just as he wanted.

Does that mean we should let ourselves go and become slobs? Of course not! It does mean, however, that we can accept the way God made us and celebrate who we are.

By the way, you look great!

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb (Psalm 139:15).

To Do

Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Spend a few minutes thanking God for what you see—hair, eyes, nose, skin, body type, height—and for what you don’t see—personality, talents, intellect, abilities, and family.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Siblings Day (be nice to yours).

This is also National Cinnamon Crescent Day (yum!).

1849—Walter Hunt of New York City patented the safety pin. He sold the rights for only $100. (I think that was a big mistake!)

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 1865 General Robert E. Lee and his 26,765 troops surrendered to Union General Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This ended the U.S. Civil War.

War is terrible—always. Sometimes wars are necessary, when dictators enslave, despots attack, and nations and terrorists invade. Evil people spreading evil must be stopped. But wars exact an awful price. And this day marks the end of one of our nation’s costliest wars, in which Americans fought each other.

Families and friends can engage in their own “civil wars”—neighborhoods and churches, too. And most of those conflicts begin over unimportant and even silly issues. It’s so sad to see people who should love each other fighting for a petty reason.

The verse for today is found in a familiar part of the Gospels called the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus was teaching his disciples and the gathered crowds what being his follower would mean. Obviously he thought that working for peace is important, and he said that those who do so will be blessed.

Peacemaking means making an effort to get along. It may involve swallowing our pride and keeping silent when we want to yell and scream. It may mean compromising or giving in. It certainly means loving the other person and treating him or her as a special and loved creation of God.

With whom are you “at war” these days? Someone at school? A brother or sister? What will it take to make peace with him or her?

Work for peace.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9).

To Do

Make a list of people with whom you often have disagreements, conflicts, or fights. Use that as a prayer list. Ask God to work in their hearts and on your relationships with them.

Also on this day . . .

The annual Rat Race and Parade are held in Louisville, Kentucky.

1833—Peterborough, NH, opened the first municipally supported public library.

1959—NASA announced the selection of America’s first seven astronauts.

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 the birthday of Ponce de Leon (1460). He’s the Spanish explorer who spent much of his life searching for the Fountain of Youth.

Forever, it seems, people have wanted to stay young, even back in the fourteen and fifteen hundreds. And people today are still looking for a “fountain of youth”—skin treatments, vitamins, and special diets—anything that can help them live better and longer.

They want to look young and feel young and to slow down the aging process. That’s because old age can be a pain. Joints and muscles ache, sicknesses hit, much is spent on prescriptions and doctors, and death moves closer. In today’s verse, Solomon wrote that many old people “no longer enjoy living.” One version of this verse (The Living Bible) translates old age as “the evil years.”

When we’re young, we have energy, and life is fun and exciting. So exciting, says Solomon, that we can forget about God. We can get so involved in playing games, spending time with friends, going to parties, eating, laughing, and enjoying our youth that we feel no need for our Creator.

But life passes quickly, and, before we know it, we’re much older, and we join the search for that fountain of youth.

Actually, a young person without God can become a bitter old person. Maybe you know someone like that—always complaining and griping, always feeling bad, joyless, and sad. But a young person with God can become a grateful and gracious old person, someone who has spent a lifetime serving the Lord and can look back with no regrets. Maybe you know someone like that: a grandparent, a neighbor, or someone at church.

Which kind of person do you want to become? It’s your choice.

Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

To Do

Talk to one or more elderly people who seem to be joyful. Ask them the secret of their happiness and how they came to faith in Christ.

Also on this day . . .

1893—The Critic reported that the ice cream soda was the national drink of the U.S.

1974—Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit homerun 715, surpassing Babe Ruth’s record 714.

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 No Housework Day.

Whoever named this day must have been tired, or must have wanted a break from the daily routine of washing clothes, dusting furniture, vacuuming floors, and cleaning up, picking up, and straightening up. But imagine if this day were to extend into a week or a month—what a mess!

The fact is someone needs to do housework. No one wants to live in disgusting filth. (Isn’t that how your room was once described?) That’s why families need to pull together and work together. So everyone is assigned jobs to do around the house.

Someone takes out the garbage. Someone sets the table. Someone takes care of the dishes. Other chores include cutting grass, shoveling snow, raking leaves, weeding, making school lunches, babysitting . . . the list seems endless. And everyone is expected to clean up his or her own messes!

Are you tired yet?

Actually, effective families are like winning teams (remember the Olympics?). And teamwork means that each person plays a role and does his or her part . . . and does it well.

You say, “Sometimes I feel like a slave!” Guess what—Paul was writing to real slaves when he wrote today’s verse. But it applies to any kind of work we have been given: work for pay, schoolwork, and even chores. We are to work hard and cheerfully. And the secret for doing that is to know that we are working for God, not Mom, Dad, the teacher, a coach, or a boss.

Which of your chores are waiting to be done? Get going.

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (Colossians 3:23).

To Do

This week, do your chores before you have to, especially before your parent gets on your case. And do your work with a good attitude. That will please God, and—who knows?—the rest of the family may fall down in shock!

Also on this day . . .

1864—One of the first camel races in the United States was held in Sacramento, California.

1930—The first steel columns were set for the Empire State Building.

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.