The Big Stain

Bible Reading: Psalm 51:1-9 Adam’s eyes widened in horror as his elbow knocked a bottle of paint off the table and it toppled to the floor. Blue paint spread in a growing blob across the kitchen. Adam jumped off his chair and quickly picked up the paint bottle. What am I going to do? he…

The Suitcase

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34 “Get in there!” said Andrea, shoving her beach blanket into her suitcase. “Are you still packing?” asked her older brother, Mark. “We’re leaving in ten minutes! Here, let me help you.” He jumped on the lid of the suitcase, holding it in place while Andrea moved the zipper…

You Get What You Plant

Bible Reading: Galatians 6:7-10 “I wish we were freezing green beans or corn or something instead of canning tomatoes,” Grace said as she watched her mother pour bright red stewed tomatoes into quart jars. “I don’t like canned tomatoes very much!” “Depends on what you want to use them for. Corn and green beans don’t…

Storms of Life

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Matías looked out the window. Rain rattled on the roof, and thunder jolted his eardrums. “Why is it so loud, Mom?” he asked. “The storm is getting closer,” replied Mom. “The reporter on TV said the basement is the safest place in storms like this, so let’s go.” Mom handed…

Middle School Blues

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-32 “It’s hard to believe you’re already old enough to be in middle school this year, Caden,” Mom said as they drove home after shopping for school clothes. “Don’t remind me,” Caden said miserably. “I wish I could stay at my old school forever.” “Why?” asked Mom. “Last year there weren’t any…

A Night Walk

Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:20-23; 1 John 1:6-7 “Whoo, whoo, whoooo!” Rebecca heard the soft hoot of an owl floating through the still night air as she and her dad walked along a narrow path on their way to see the moon rise over the lake. Cool! she thought. I’ve never seen an owl in the…

Only God Can Do That!

Bible Reading: Genesis 2:7; Ephesians 2:4-10 “Look Max, I’m making a snowman!” cried Chloe, rolling a white blob of play dough into a ball. But her brother didn’t seem to be listening. Max was concentrating. He had spent the last ten minutes sculpting the face of a lion out of some yellow play dough. Chloe…

Late Arrival

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:1-3 “I don’t see why Tobin’s dad won’t let him go with us to release the pigeons,” Thatcher said as he and his father loaded a crate of homing pigeons into the back of the truck. “It isn’t fair. His dad got mad over nothing!” “Nothing?” asked Dad as he backed out…

No Throwing Stones

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Mom!” called Owen when he arrived home from school one day. “You know that new church they’re building a couple blocks away? What a mess!” “What do you mean?” asked Mom. “What happened?” “I went past there on my way home from school, and there’s stained glass all over the…

Christmas Every Day

Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-7 “Visit our store and enjoy Christmas every day of the year!” Anissa read the billboard out loud as she and her family traveled home from a week-long vacation. “Cool! That’s in the town at the next exit, isn’t it? Can we stop at that store?” Dad shrugged. “Why not? It will…