Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39; 1 John 1:9 It was a beautiful day for a picnic at the beach. The Patel family spread out a blanket and put up sun umbrellas in their favorite spot. Then Mira and Priya dashed for the water, but Ari looked fearfully at the waves. “The water is so scary today,”… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: John 15:9-10; Romans 6:11-14 “Are you enjoying your book?” asked Mom as Bailey curled up on the couch with a book of folktales. “Yeah,” said Bailey. “I just finished a story about a baby eagle who thought he was a little chick.” “Why did he think that?” asked her little brother, Luke. “Well,… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 3:15-19 “Mom, what’s wrong with these ice cubes?” asked Nora. “They’re all brown!” Mom glanced at the dark cubes and grinned. “I used iced tea to make those,” she explained. “I made them for Grandpa. You know how he loves good, strong iced tea on hot summer days.” Nora… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Psalm 25:16-22; Matthew 11:28; Philippians 4:13 “What are you doing?” asked Jonie, astonished to see her grandmother spilling beans into a pie crust. “I’m using uncooked beans as weights so my crust will bake evenly,” answered Grandma. She slid it into the oven and set the timer. Jonie laughed. “I thought you were… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Genesis 6:17-24 “Can I go out and play now?” Dylan asked. “Can I go too?” asked Molly, Dylan’s younger sister. Mom nodded, and the kids took their plates to the sink and then hurried out the door. Dylan went straight for his bike that he had thrown in the middle of the yard… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10 “I can’t see anything,” Joey complained at the concert. Everyone was standing in front of them and he just wasn’t tall enough to get a view of the stage. His dad crouched down beside him. “Get up on my back!” he shouted above the music. Joey quickly did as he was… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Psalm 71:15-18; 1 Peter 2:9 “Little kids are so funny!” Brayden said, laughing as he came into the kitchen. “Finn and his friend Arlo are playing war. They’re upstairs building a bunker in the bathtub—filling it with pillows. We’d better be careful, Dad! According to them, there are bombers overhead, submarines all around… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Revelation 21:1-5; 22:20 Keziah loved it when she and her mom got to babysit two-year-old Elodie, Mrs. Gordon’s daughter from church. Mom, Keziah, and Elodie would color, play dress-up, read books, and munch on snacks all morning while Mrs. Gordon attended seminary classes. One such morning, Elodie was missing her mom more than… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Matthew 25:14-29; 1 Corinthians 10:31 When Kai came home after school, he sat down with a heavy sigh. “What’s wrong, Kai?” asked Mom as she added ingredients to the almond bars she was making. “I don’t seem to be good at anything at school,” Kai replied. “I’m not good in sports, so I… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:20-27; 28:13; 1 John 1:9 Gia traced her finger along a pack of gum in her pocket as she and her twin sister Teagan walked down a winding forest trail near their family’s cabin. Mom had said they could take a hike if they stayed together and didn’t go far. I wish… Continue Reading…