Bible Reading: John 8:31–36 “Will he bite?” Denise asked fearfully as the handler started to give her a yellow corn snake to hold. Denise and her mother were at a special event at the public library and had stopped by the reptile booth. “No, she’s very friendly,” the woman replied. “Her name is Melissa.” Tentatively,…
Bible Reading: Mark 4:35–41 The streetlight in front of Grandma’s house shone through the bare branches of a tree outside the window and cast eerie shadows across Mia’s bed. As the wind tugged at the branches, twisted black shadows inched their way over the covers. They look like big, black teeth, Mia thought fearfully. She…
Bible Reading: Exodus 4:10-12 When Imogene’s Sunday school class finished presenting a program to a younger group, Pastor Paul, the church youth leader, complimented her. “You did a great job with your ventriloquism,” he said. “The dialogue with your dummy was cute, and it had a good message too.” “Thanks,” said Imogene. She held up…
Bible Reading: Luke 12:22-31 “Deja, what do you think of all this?” Grandpa asked. Deja looked around at the beautiful landscape: the river rippling past the prow of the canoe, the tall pine trees, the fluffy clouds, and a blue, blue sky. “It’s okay,” she said, dipping her hand in the water. “You don’t sound…
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-6; 34:4; John 14:27 Emily giggled. She couldn’t help it. Her cousins Travis and Drake were visiting, and she was too excited to sleep. “Shhh,” Travis whispered from his pallet of blankets on the living room floor. Emily’s brother Christopher came bounding into the room wearing a blanket around his shoulders like…
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1, 13-14 Natalia flopped down on her favorite beanbag chair. She started chewing on her fingernails, and her mother noticed. “Worried about something?” Mom asked. Natalia looked down at her hands and sighed. “I have a friend at school—Tess—who’s going through a hard time right now. Her parents just got divorced, and…
Bible Reading: Psalm 34:14-17 Editor’s note: This story may not be suitable for young children. “Dathan!” whispered Miles. “Put this in your pocket. Quick!” He held out a small bottle. Dathan looked at the bottle, then at his older cousin. “This is alcohol! We can’t buy this.” “We’re not gonna buy it,” Miles replied. “Come…
Bible Reading: Psalm 145:18-19; Romans 8:38-39 “It’s gone!” Braylee exclaimed one morning as she and her older sister walked to the school where they attended day camp. “They just put it up, and now it’s gone!” A huge telescope had recently been installed on a mountain near their town. The girls usually saw it clearly…
Bible Reading: Matthew 8:23-27 Josh glanced up from his book when he heard a rumbling sound. Maybe it was just an airplane flying overhead or their neighbor’s motorcycle. He tried to read again, but suddenly there was a flash and then a louder rumbling that was definitely thunder. He remembered last April when a line…
Bible Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-17; Hebrews 13:5-6 Ding-dong chimed the doorbell. “Wyatt!” Mom called. “You have a package!” Wyatt galloped down the stairs. “Who’s it from?” he asked curiously. Mom squinted at the return address on the package. “It looks like it’s from your Uncle Dale in Texas. I think it’s your birthday present,” she said,…
