Bible Reading: Matthew 5:38-44 Thatcher quickly stepped into his classroom when he saw Julian coming down the hall at school. He’s a big bully, Thatcher thought. He’s always so mean to me! Thatcher was right. One day Julian had teased him about his haircut. “You look like a shaggy dog!” The next day it was… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Psalm 121:1-8 “You’re okay, Puff. I’m right here. Quiet down,” said Josie soothingly. She reached down and patted the lid of the cat carrier that was on the floor of the car. Horrible wails and yowls were coming from inside the carrier. “Why is Puff crying so much, Mom?” Josie asked. “The vet… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17 While visiting his grandparents, Baram woke up one morning to a thick blanket of snow outside the window. He had never seen snow before, and he could hardly wait to play in it. He jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen. “Grandma!” he yelled. “It snowed! Can I go… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Psalm 46 “One more! One more!” As Nathan cheered him on, Darius carefully laid another fork on top of the pyramid. Got it! It had started as a row of forks on the kitchen table, tines pointing down. Then the brothers set another row on top of it, the tip of each tine… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Psalm 92:5-7, 12-15 The holidays were officially over. Several Christmas trees with forgotten bits of tinsel had been placed along the sidewalks, waiting to be hauled away. On a drive home from their grandparents’ house, Maya and her brother Logan counted them. “Eight,” Maya announced. “Nine,” Logan corrected her. “A man back there… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:10-13 “Oh, Mom, pleeease!” begged Nayori as she scrolled through a webpage on her mom’s laptop. “Please get me one of these cool sweatshirts! Everyone at school has one!” As she spoke, they heard a loud cry, and her little brother came out of the playroom. “I got hurt!” Sebastian sobbed. “I… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:4-8; Luke 10:38-42 “Stephanie loaded the last cup in the dishwasher and sighed. It was another new year, and all her friends had lofty goals to accomplish—make the cheerleading team, run a mile in a certain amount of time, learn to cook like the next Master Chef. God, I’m just so tired!… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:5-14 “Grandpa, I get to stay up till after midnight!” Mallory said as she told her grandfather about the New Year’s Eve party her friend was having. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.” “Sounds great,” said Grandpa. His eyes twinkled. “Have I ever told you about the New Year’s Eve… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-11 I still can’t believe Coltan and his dad didn’t even thank us for the stuff we gave them,” Austin said as he and his dad drove home after taking groceries to the Baker family. He looked out the window as they passed by a small lake. “Oh no! It’s thawing!… Continue Reading…

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:22-24 “Are you going to take those groceries to somebody?” Austin asked when he saw his father pick up his car keys and a bag of groceries from the table. Austin knew the church often supplied food for families with a need and Dad sometimes delivered them. Dad nodded. “The Bakers, who… Continue Reading…