Bible Reading: Revelation 21:1-4, 22-27 Nathan watched as baby Nevaeh blinked, nodded, and finally closed her eyes. When he was sure she was asleep, he looked at his mom in the rearview mirror. “Mom? Do you think heaven is gonna be—I don’t know—boring?” Mom glanced at him. “What makes you say that?” Nathan squirmed. “Well,…
Bible Reading: Psalm 10:14, 17; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Revelation 21:1-4 Melanie gazed out her bedroom window as rain pelted the glass. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed while tears streaked down her face. “Why, God?” she whispered. “Why did my baby brother have to die?” The storm looked angry and sad—like Melanie’s heart. Arms wrapped around…
Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “I don’t like camp! Don’t go! Stay with me!” Four-year-old Fay sobbed as she clung to her big brother. “I won’t be gone forever,” Ford told her. “I’m just going for a week.” “No! I want you to stay home and play with me,” the little girl insisted. Gently, Mom…
Bible Reading: Luke 21:9-19 Felix was lying on his bed with his head propped on his hands and a worried look on his face when his mom stopped at his door. “How was school, Felix?” she asked. “Did something happen?” “Not really.” Felix hesitated. “We did have a discussion in social studies, though. One of…
Bible Reading: Romans 10:9-14 “Mom, can I go play at the park with Zayden?” asked Sawyer. Mom laughed. “Zayden, Zayden, Zayden. Ever since you met him, all I hear is ‘Zayden.’” “He’s lots of fun,” said Sawyer. “I think we’re going to be really good friends. It almost feels like he’s the brother I never…
Bible Reading: Psalm 23 Owen looked at the frail man on the bed. Grandpa’s getting so weak, he thought. I know he’s going to die soon. “Are you afraid, Grandpa?” he asked. “No, Owen.” Grandpa smiled as he reached for Owen’s hand. “I’m not afraid to die. Jesus is with me. I’m going home to…
Bible Reading: Psalm 16:11; Philippians 1:21-23 On the way home from church, Joanna noticed her brother quietly staring out the window. “What’s wrong, Derek?” she asked. “You’ve hardly said a word since we got in the car.” Derek sighed. “I was just thinking about what Pastor Hill said about Jesus coming again.” Joanna frowned. “Don’t…
Bible Reading: John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10 Stretching sleepily, Max wondered why he had a strange, empty feeling in his stomach. Then it all came back to him. He glanced over at the empty bed on the other side of the room. It really was true—his brother Aaron was gone. It had been almost…
Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 1:16 “Come here, Mr. Wiggle Worm,” Peter said as he put an earthworm in a can. “Hey, Dad, are worms good for anything besides bird food and fish bait?” “Yes,” said Dad. “They help the earth breathe.” Peter laughed. “Like lungs?” Dad smiled. “Not exactly, but as worms burrow through…
Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:10; 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Thatcher and Mae had given up trying to eat the dry mints at their table at Jessica’s wedding. They had waited a long time already for their cousin and her new husband, Matt, to arrive so the reception could start. As her tummy growled, Mae said, “Food sounds…
