Read: Psalm 23; John 10:1-12, 27-28 Evening descended swiftly on the French Alps. Chloe snuggled closer to her dad as the two of them and her dad’s friend Jules huddled around a fire for warmth. “Another good thing about being a sheep is all that wool to keep you warm,” Chloe said. Jules nodded. “It’s…
Read: Romans 3:22-26; Titus 3:5-7 Rosita wiped sweat from her forehead, then got back to scrubbing the pot in the sink. She was working as hard as she could to clean the kitchen before Mom got home. They’d had a fight that morning, and Rosita was sorry for the things she’d said. She sighed and…
Read: Isaiah 43:1-4 Max opened his car window and smelled pine trees. Mom and Dad sang their old camp song about a cowboy and his one-eyed horse. Max usually sang along. But today the lyrics caught in his throat. Mom and Dad’s stories of camp made Max feel like he knew the place even though…
Read: Ephesians 1:3-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19 “Sold!” proclaimed the fast-talking auctioneer, and Logan grinned at his mother. He found auctions fun and interesting, so he hadn’t minded when she wanted to stop and see what was happening at this antique auction. “Another broken piece of junk sold to the highest bidder,” Logan murmured, stifling a…
Read: Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Trey was excited because today Grandma was finally going to teach him how to make her famous molasses bread. As Dad dropped him off and waved goodbye, Trey could already taste the rich, fluffy bread and the salty crunch of toasted oats on top. Grandma welcomed Trey with a…
Read: Psalm 51:6-10; Luke 11:37-41 “Mom, can we go home now? I’m sooo bored!” Stella slumped against the seat of the car. “Stella, we’re almost done—kids, look! A whole block sale!” Mom pulled the car over to the side of the road. Hayden excitedly pressed his nose against the window. “I love yard sailing!” The…
Read: Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:15-16 “Look,” said Adrian, pointing to an insect he and his sister Eva had caught out in the garden. “Maybe it’s praying!” Sure enough, the bug’s forelegs were folded together as if in prayer. “Let’s see if we can find out what it is.” The kids searched online and found a…
Read: Colossians 1:9-14 When Jack came into the living room, his dad was watching the news. He heard the end of a report about a man trying to collect a large inheritance. “If that man’s parents died, why can’t he get the money that was left?” asked Jack after Dad turned off the TV. “He…
Read: Romans 3:23-24; Colossians 1:22 Laura sat in bed with math papers strewn all over the place. “Six times eight is forty-eight, seven times eight is fifty-six, eight times eight is—” “Sixty-four!” Mom answered as she walked in. “Are you still studying, Laura? You should be asleep!” Laura sighed. “I know. I’m just so nervous…
Read: Psalm 51:1-2; Romans 5:6-9 Leo watched his ball roll under the shed, then he dropped his bat and crawled in after it. As he scooted under the edge, he spotted a pair of glowing eyes. A cat, thought Leo. He crawled closer. “Here, kitty,” he called. The animal turned. Oh no! thought Leo. A…
