• The New Desk - 03/10/2014

    Janelle slipped a box of matches and a candle out of the kitchen cabinet, and headed for her room. After carefully locking her door, she lit the candle and placed it on a corner of her brand new desk. Her hand glided across the shiny top. I love this desk. she thought. It's so pretty--especially with...

  • Give and Get - 03/09/2014

    "How was Bible club?" asked Mom as Pete and Mike arrived home. "Good! I'm on the game committee for a party we're having in a couple of weeks," Mike replied. "That will be fun! After I learn my verses for next time, I'm going to look for some games." He headed for his room. Mom looked at Pete as...

  • Please Pass the Peas - 03/08/2014

    Owen frowned as his mother passed him a bowl of peas. "I know you don't care for peas, Owen," she said, "but I want you to take a few." Knowing better than to argue, he reluctantly dropped a few peas on his plate. "Pretend they're something else," suggested his sister Shelly. "Pretend you're a missionary--like...

  • Surprise Test - 03/07/2014

    "Here's ten dollars," said Mom as handing Juan a shopping list and the money. "That will be a little more than you need. Get everything on the list, and you may keep the change." "All right!" exclaimed Juan. He took the money and headed for the store. He got the items for his mother and went to pay...

  • In His Steps - 03/06/2014

    Shannon laughed as she watched her little brother crawl around the lawn with Zach, his one-year-old cousin. "Josh was proud when he turned three, but I guess he's going back to being a baby again," Shannon said when Mom came outside. "Copying your cousin, are you, Josh?" said Mom, picking up little...

  • What’s Inside - 03/05/2014

    Rachel stumbled into her aunt's house and collapsed on the couch, sobbing. Aunt Karen knelt beside her. "What's the matter, honey? I thought you were playing with the kids next door. What happened?" "I'm fat and ugly," wailed Rachel. "The kids call me Tootsie Roll." She choked on the words. "Oh,...

  • A Person of Principle - 03/04/2014

    "Hey, Steve! How many raffle tickets do you need?" asked Logan as the boys walked home from school. "None," Steve replied. "I don't buy raffle tickets." "I don't mean buy them," Logan said. "I mean how many do you think you can sell?" "None," Steve repeated. "What do you mean, none?" objected...

  • New Mission Field - 03/03/2014

    Carlos slumped down in his chair and sighed. His mother had given him the news he dreaded most: they were going to move again. "This always happens just when I'm getting to like my school and know a lot of the guys! Doesn't the Army know we've moved enough already?" he grumbled. "I know how you feel,"...

  • Time For Toast - 03/02/2014

    "Theo, you forgot to pray for Carter today," said Liz after her older brother finished his prayer at the breakfast table. "You're not supposed to criticize other people's prayers," grumbled Theo. "Anyhow, I gave up praying for Carter. It wasn't working. He's not interested in coming to Sunday school...

  • Talk It Over - 03/01/2014

    "Please clear the table for me tonight, kids. I've got to get ready for a presentation tomorrow." Mom's voice got muffled as she went down the hall and into her office. "Thanks!" "Mom never has time for us anymore," complained Ashley in a low voice as she and her brother Jeremy cleared the dishes...

  • Light in the Darkness - 02/28/2014

    As she sat in the old porch swing with her grandmother, Robyn watched the first stars appear in the sky. "I love spending the weekend here," said Robyn. "I'm so glad you do. I enjoy having you visit," Grandma replied with a smile. "In a little while we'll go in for hot cocoa and a Bible story." Robyn...

  • Finding Friends - 02/27/2014

    Staci came home in tears. "I don't have any friends," she wailed. "I wish we'd never moved here!" "I'm sorry," sympathized Mom. "Let's talk about how you can change that." "I can't do anything! The kids just stare at me and walk right on by," Staci sobbed. "I'm so lonely." The door flew open, and...

  • Double Pay - 02/26/2014

    Brandon was worried. The kids on his ball team were being given a chance to attend a professional ball game. Brandon knew that even with the reduced prices that were offered, his parents really couldn't afford to buy the tickets for him. What can I do? he wondered. All the other kids are going. When...

  • Proper Identification - 02/25/2014

    "Shall we go see if Dad's busy?" suggested Sandy as she and her brother started home from school. Brett nodded, so they took the route that led past the place where Dad worked. Their father, who was a gate guard at a factory, saw them coming. "Sorry, but you can't get through here without a badge,"...

  • A Bad Day - 02/24/2014

    Mom frowned when she heard Noah's bedroom door close with a bang. She headed for his room. "Noah, you know better than to slam doors," she said. "Why did . . ." Mom paused as she noticed tears in Noah's eyes. "What's the trouble?" she asked as she sat down beside him on the edge of the bed. "I had...

  • Word of Mouth - 02/23/2014

    "How did your appointment go?" Dad asked as Kristen bounded into the kitchen when she and her mother returned from the dentist. "Good," replied Kristen. "No cavities!" "Great," said Dad. He held out a plate of blueberry muffins. "I was just ready to have one of the muffins Mom made this morning,"...

  • Jared’s List - 02/22/2014

    Jared frowned as he slowly climbed the steps, unlocked the door, and entered the apartment. He looked at the note his mother had left. It listed the chores he needed to do. Jared slammed his books on the table. "I hate being home alone!" he muttered. "Why did Dad take off and leave us?" Jared was...

  • Three = One! - 02/21/2014

    "Something on your mind, Adam?" asked his mother. "You look so serious!" Adam sighed. "My Bible club teacher says God is three persons in one," he answered. "She called it the Trinity and tried to explain it, but I still don't get it. She says there's God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy...

  • Unlimited Treasure - 02/20/2014

    "What smells so good, Mom?" asked Christy as she put her school books on the kitchen table. "It smells like . . ." She sniffed the air. "It smells like Grandma's backyard when the lilacs are blooming." Mom smiled. "You're right, Christy," she said. "Aunt Lisa gave me perfume for my birthday. It's...

  • A Jump Start - 02/19/2014

    "I get so tired of Josiah Simpson!" grumbled Nolan one evening. "He always borrows paper, pencils, pens--you name it--and I never get them back!" "Maybe you should just ask him for them instead of getting angry about it," suggested Dad. "Well, besides that," Nolan added, "he plays so rough, but...