Bible Reading: Psalm 91:1-4; Matthew 6:28-33 Lucy glanced at her teenage sister with concern. “Sophie, how are you feeling?” Sophie gave a small smile. “A little better than this morning.” Lucy knew Sophie was trying to be brave, but these last two weeks had been difficult on her. Sophie had a virus several months prior,…
Bible Reading: Psalm 139:5-7; Matthew 1:23 Through the door, up the stairs, and into a new room again. Ruby had been to so many foster homes, and this one was no different. Why did I have to move on Christmas Day? she thought as she put her bag down on the floor. She’d felt so…
Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-7, 40, 52; Hebrews 4:14-16 Anna scrunched her nose against the viewing window of the hospital nursery. Her baby brother was just five hours old. He lay snuggled in a blue blanket and was wearing a tiny knit cap on his fuzzy head. He whimpered a little and nuzzled into the blanket….
Bible Reading: Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 21:1-5 When the flea-covered and starving foster kittens had arrived several weeks before, they couldn’t even open their eyes. Now, they were healthy, growing, and busy as could be—rolling around, climbing up and down, batting at the air, and cuddling with Malachi and his mom. As Malachi…
Bible Reading: John 14:6-18 Noel reached up high on her tiptoes and placed a sparkling silver bell on an empty tree branch. “Look, Gi-Gi! Just a few more branches and we’re finished!” Noel’s great-grandmother smiled at her excitement. “Noel, I enjoy this tradition of decorating with you every year. It’s amazing how high you can…
Bible Reading: John 6:1-14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Jessie rolled her wheelchair to the bedroom mirror and stared at her reflection. I can’t do anything, she thought as tears filled her eyes. I’m not enough. Mom peeked inside her room. “Jessie, I’m going to the store and could use your help—oh, honey!” Mom rushed over. “Why…
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:21-24 “Mom, tell Elijah to stop,” Bri said as she came into the kitchen with her little brother following her. “Elijah, are you teasing your sister again?” Mom asked. “No,” Elijah said with his thumb in his mouth. “He is too! Every time I move, he moves the same way I…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:1-4; 1 John 1:9-10 Eli came in and dropped his backpack onto the floor. “Mom, I’m the worst Christian ever,” he said, sounding very discouraged. “I can’t do anything right—not even for one day.” “What happened?” asked Mom. “What did you do wrong?” “Everything!” said Eli. “Cody said something mean to me…
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4; John 11:32-36 “Smile nice.” Tiffany’s mom nudged her shoulder. “It’s for your dad, so look at the camera and smile.” Tiffany forced a smile to her face, but she wasn’t happy. Later that day, Tiffany was thinking about her dad as she sat down to dinner with her mom and brother….
Bible Reading: Romans 8:26-28 Silas walked into the kitchen and saw a bunch of things sitting on the counter—flour, sugar, eggs, and a thick, delicious-looking chocolate bar. At the sight of the chocolate, his eyes got big and round. I’m sure Mom won’t mind if I have a taste, he thought. So he picked up…
