Heavy Load

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 Julian cheered in excitement at the tractor pulling contest. One of the contestants—a friend of Julian’s family—revved the engine as his tractor strained to pull the heavy load. It inched along, then gathered speed to the finish line. “He made it!” Julian shouted, and he clapped along with others in the…

The Way In

Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 6-11 “I’ll be back for dinner, Mom,” Zach said as he pulled his beach towel off the clothesline. “I’ll be swimming with Kade at the country club.” When the boys got to the entryway of the big club building, Kade showed a card to the greeter at the welcome desk. The…

No Broken Promises

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:2-7 Everett stood at the window, watching dark clouds disappearing into the distant sky. “Those clouds sure weren’t any help,” he said. “I was hoping it would rain so I wouldn’t have to mow Mrs. Smith’s lawn today.” “I was hoping those clouds would give us some rain too—we sure do need…

Get Me Off This Thing!

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:8-10 “Oh no! No, no, no! Get me off this thing! Mom, make them stop!” Carrie squirmed nervously as the seat she was strapped into began to rise higher and higher into the air. Mom laughed and grabbed Carrie’s hand. “Sorry, honey, but I think it’s too late to get off now….

Going Back in Time

Bible Reading: 1 John 1:5-10 “Your mom’s calling you for lunch?” Tenley asked in surprise as she talked on the phone with her cousin Beth. “You mean you haven’t eaten lunch yet? It’s almost two in the afternoon! We ate a long time ago.” “Well, it’s only noon here in Colorado, remember?” Beth replied. “We’re…

Incredible Saguaros (Part 2)

Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-13 “Look!” said Rylee, stepping back from the huge saguaro cactus. “There’s something in that hole!” Dad and Easton came over to see. Sure enough, a pair of blinking yellow eyes peered back at them from a hole in the trunk of the cactus. “I think it’s a screech owl,” said Easton….

This Old Planet

Bible Reading: Psalm 89:8, 11-13 Journey and Brynn ran to the garage where their dad was working “Mom says we’re going to have a picnic at the park!” said Journey. “Can we go soon?” “We want to have time to play on the swings before we eat!” added Brynn. “Okay,” said Dad, “but before we…

Undeserved Gift

Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:7-9 Tinkling bells chimed invitingly as the ice cream truck turned onto Johanna’s street. Ice cream was one of her favorite treats, but it was just before lunchtime, so she was sure her grandma wouldn’t let her have anything now. Maybe I can still have a little fun with the ice cream…

Missing

Bible Reading: Matthew 18:10-14 HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CHILD? The large print on the back of a flyer that had come in the mail caught Caroline’s eye as she sat down at the table to eat breakfast. There was a picture of a cute little girl, along with information about who she was and where…