Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4 Josiah sat in front of the woodstove, soaking up the warmth and staring at the flickering flames. It was very cold outside, and he was happy his grandpa kept the fire going. He and his mom had just made the long trip north from Virginia after his dad left them. Josiah…
Bible Reading: Psalms 121; 139:2-5 Joel was used to the sound of sirens, squealing tires, and people’s loud voices all through the night. Living in the city, he heard those things all the time. But he wasn’t used to the beeping sound he heard now. Turning onto his side in his bed, Joel saw that…
Bible Reading: Romans 5:6-9 Naomi studied her doll collection. She thought all her dolls were beautiful, and she couldn’t decide which one she should enter in the “Best Doll” contest at the local library. Finally, she closed her eyes, spun around a couple of times, and reached out. Her fingers closed around black-haired Hiyoko. “This…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10-13; Romans 8:38-39 Jace’s favorite toy store was closing. He stared at the sign out front and fought back tears. He loved coming here. His grandpa used to take him every year at Christmastime when he was alive, and they would spend hours looking at all the toys before Jace would finally…
Bible Reading: Psalm 102:25-28; Revelation 1:8 Holden climbed into the back seat of the car, eager to talk about what he’d learned in math class that day. “Mom, did you know that a number line doesn’t have a beginning or an end? It’s a line with every number on it, both positive and negative. Mr….
Bible Reading: Luke 2:41-52 Josiah looked at the craft he’d made in Sunday school. It was a box covered in construction paper that said “Jesus loves you, and He’ll always take care of you” on the top. Josiah sighed. Those words didn’t make him feel especially happy. I already have too many people taking care…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:2; John 1:4, 9-10; 2 Corinthians 4:6 Josiah stared out the car window as his dad drove slowly past the lit-up homes. The lights seemed extra bright this Christmas. There were red, white, green, and blue lights strung along roof lines and door frames, wrapped around porch columns, and draped across tree…
Bible Reading: Psalm 46:1; 91:1-4; Philippians 4:19 “David, your mom is waiting for you.” David started at the sound of Tía Gloria’s voice. “Where?” “At the playground,” she answered kindly. David hurried down the stairs that led up to the home he had known for almost a whole year. He was one of thirty children…
Bible Reading: Mark 5:1-20 “Hey, buddy,” Dad said to Jamal as he cleared away the lunch dishes, “after I help your mom clean up, let’s head over to the park.” “Nah, that’s okay,” Jamal said quietly. “I don’t really want to go.” “That doesn’t sound like you,” said Dad. “You usually love going to the…
Bible Reading: Luke 12:16-24, 30-31; 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “Lucu’s food bowl is empty again, Ibu,” Ayu called to her mother as she poured some seeds into the hamster’s bowl. Lucu was Ayu’s first pet, and she was determined to take good care of him. Seeing more food in his bowl, Lucu immediately ate some. True…
