Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31 Kaylee softly sang a song as she zipped her suitcase. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…” “Time to go,” called Dad. Reluctantly, Kaylee turned and followed her parents to the car. Usually she loved going to church retreats, but…
Bible Reading: Psalm 30:10-12 Clunk, clunk, clunk! Olivia slammed her fists on the piano keys, tears stinging her eyes. Dad put down the evergreen wreath he had been about to hang and hurried to Olivia’s side. “What’s wrong, Liv? Your piano playing was so beautiful. You know that ‘Deck the Halls’ is my favorite Christmas…
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Desperately, Erica tossed items from her closet onto her bedroom floor. “What’s going on?” Mom asked as she walked into the bedroom. “I have to find them!” Erica cried, digging even faster through toys and clothes in the closet. “It’s all I have left of Grandma.” Mom…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 55:8-11 A cold wind whipped through the cemetery and stung Colin’s face. He tried to listen as the minister read from the Bible. I wonder if Grandpa is with Jesus in heaven, he thought for the hundredth time in the last few days. On the way home, Colin finally asked the question…
Bible Reading: Psalm 16:11; 30:11; 1 Peter 1:8-9 After a long day at Grandpa’s funeral, Emily spent the night with Grandma to keep her company. The next morning, she found Grandma on the couch with a big fancy box. “That’s a pretty box.” Emily sat down next to her. Grandma smiled. “This is my joy…
Bible Reading: John 11:17-25; 1 Corinthians 15:26 Addison put her laptop away as tears welled up in her eyes. Her grandma had died from COVID-19 a few days ago, and Addison couldn’t stop crying. How could this happen? she thought. A few weeks ago Grandma was fine, and now she’s gone. When Addison walked downstairs,…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21; 1 John 5:11 Dad had done everything he could to make this Christmas feel the same. He hung the outdoor lights, no problem. That was his task every year. He’d even whistled while he hung them. Mia smiled when she heard it. Dad hadn’t whistled much since Mom died…
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “Isn’t he pretty, Tanner?” Maya asked her older brother as she held a yellow and black goldfinch in her cupped hands. “I’m going to keep him.” Tanner looked doubtful. “He didn’t even try to fly away when we got near him. I think he’s sick.” “No, he’s not!” said Maya. “I…
Bible Reading: John 14:1-6 Oliver wandered into his room. He didn’t feel like playing. As he sat down on his bed, a little red truck caught his eye, and he picked it up. It had been Joey’s favorite. Joey! Oliver closed his eyes. Pictures of his little brother flashed through his mind—Joey playing happily; the…
Bible Reading: Psalm 116:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Grace held her golden retriever’s head in her lap and scratched behind her silky ears. But Blondie didn’t look up at her with big brown eyes like she usually did. Instead, she lay still, barely breathing. “Why doesn’t God hear my prayers?” Tears flowed down Grace’s cheeks. “He…
