Read: Proverbs 18:24; Philippians 2:3-8 Luke sat in the pew and stared off into space as his parents talked to some friends nearby. His stomach growled loudly, and he hoped his family would leave soon. “What are you doing sitting here by yourself?” Luke looked up as Mr. Bryant sat down in the pew in…
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 Ellie and Keely had been friends for a long time. They lived on the same street and went to the same school. But now Keely’s family was moving away. On their last day together, the girls played at Ellie’s house while Keely’s parents packed. “I’m already sad,” said Ellie….
Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 9:10-13; 2 Timothy 1:7 “Great game, Hailey!” said Mom. “Two goals–that’s incredible!” Hailey kicked off her soccer cleats and sat on the sidelines beside Mom’s folding chair. “Sure, I guess.” “What’s wrong?” asked Mom. “You did great.” Hailey’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s Kaylee and Jenna. They said they don’t…
Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-17 “Did you see that clunky bracelet Megan is wearing?” Vivian whispered to the girls sitting near her on the bus, but Megan overheard. She looked down at the beaded bracelet she and her grandmother had strung together. Spaced between bright round beads were letters spelling J-O-Y. Megan had been excited to…
Bible Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:7-13 “I’m not going to Topher’s birthday party,” Declan told his mother as they walked down the grocery aisle. “Not if Walker’s there.” “That’s not very nice,” said Mom. “For Topher or Walker.” “Yeah, well, they both deserve it! Walker’s mean and makes fun of people, and Topher just…
Bible Reading: Proverbs 17:27-28; 18:13 “Don’t quit yet!” Jill begged her friend, but Elsie sat down and began unlacing her skates, saying she was cold. “It’s not that cold!” said Jill. Elsie didn’t answer, and Jill went back out on the ice. “Hey, Jill!” called Mila as she skated by. “My mom is driving some…
Bible Reading: Romans 1:14-17 Peter raced into the house after another day at his new school. “Mom! Guess what! I made some more friends today–Mateo and Rhett! They both live on the same block as us. Can they come over to play basketball?” “Sure,” said Mom. “What about the boy you were talking to at…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 1:21-23; Philippians 2:5-8 “I don’t know what I’m going to do, Seth,” Jaden told his big brother. They were playing one of their favorite video games while waiting for Mom’s homemade pizza to finish cooking. “You could start by actually playing!” Seth paused a moment, then said, “No, really, what’s…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 32:17-18; Luke 2:8-16 When she got home from school, Sybil collapsed into a chair so forcefully it scraped across the floor. “Sybil!” said Mom. “Be careful! You’re going to leave marks!” She sighed as Sybil’s little sister started crying in the other room. “This house is like a war zone,” she muttered….
Bible Reading: John 15:13-15; Ephesians 5:1-2 “Elena, wait a minute!” Hearing someone calling to her just as she was about to walk out to the bus, Elena paused. Riley, a friend from school who had recently started attending Elena’s church, approached her. “Can you help with the fall cleanup at church on Saturday?” she asked….
