• Making Lemonade - 12/08/2013

    Peter picked up a bowl of warm, buttery popcorn and scowled at his sister. "Get out of my chair, Mandy!" he ordered. "You always get to sit by the window," complained Mandy. "I want to sit here for a change." "It's my spot," Peter insisted, but Mandy just stuck out her tongue. "Dad! Make Mandy get...

  • A Good Teacher - 12/07/2013

    "Oo-ran-os," eighteen-year-old Brad muttered, pacing around the kitchen with a thick book in his hands. "Oo-ran-os, theog-no-sia." "Whoa!" exclaimed his younger sister Alena, coming into the kitchen. "What language is that? Swahili?" "Oo-ran-os," Brad repeated, pronouncing it slowly. "It's Greek...

  • A Salty Spring - 12/06/2013

    "How about a hike up one of the mountain trails before dinner?" Mr. Charles called out to the boys in his fifth grade Sunday school class. This camping trip was a yearly event they had all looked forward to. "Yes!" exclaimed several of the boys. They eagerly scrambled up and started out. After hiking...

  • Miriam Babysits Moses - 12/05/2013

    "Here, honey. Please entertain your brother for a while," said Mom as she handed Bethany the squalling little boy. "He's been so cranky today, and I need to get some things done." "But, Mom, I was reading!" whined Bethany as she bounced Casey up and down to quiet him. "The story was just starting...

  • Too Late - 12/04/2013

    "I heard they'll let us feed the giraffes at the zoo, Mom! Can Itake money along in case I have to buy the food to feed them? Sometimes they have camel rides, too! Did you ever ride a camel?" Silas couldn't sit still. His scout troop was taking a trip to the zoo, and he couldn't wait to go. He bounced...

  • The Fearbreak - 12/03/2013

    "The old saying 'no news is good news' is so often true," Dad said as he switched off the car radio. "I've heard enough bad news for today." "The guy on the radio was talking about escaped prisoners. Do you think they're still in this area?" Krystal asked, peering anxiously out the car window. "I...

  • Something to Practice - 12/02/2013

    "Can I stay home tomorrow?" Patti asked her mother, setting her books on the table. Mom looked surprised. "Stay home?" she asked. "Do you feel sick?" Patti shook her head. "No, but I . . . I have a problem," she replied, "and if I don't go to school, I won't have to worry about it."Mom waited, so...

  • Use the Light - 12/01/2013

    Jeremy and his cousin Eric stretched out beside the campfire. "Idon't usually like fish, but those we caught today were yummy!" declared Jeremy. Uncle Bob nodded in agreement. "Now let's have some spiritual food before we turn in," he said. "I hope you boys remembered your Bibles." Eric nodded,...

  • Riddles - 11/30/2013

    "Hey, Ron, how are you doing in math?" asked his sister Lori. "Got an A on my report card," Ron answered happily. "Well, then let's see if you can figure out this riddle," suggested Lori. "Listen carefully now, okay?" Ron nodded. "A bus with ten people on it stopped and picked up five more," said...

  • Faith in What? - 11/29/2013

    Dan was delighted when his friend Trent agreed to go with the church youth group to the amusement park. If he has fun, maybe he'll come with me to church sometime, thought Dan. Trent did have fun, and all too soon the group was back on the bus. As they headed home, the kids discussed their favorite...

  • Something Missing - 11/28/2013

    ". . . and please help the people at Westside Mission find enough workers to help serve the Thanksgiving dinner," prayed Sheri a few days before Thanksgiving. She finished and said amen, ending the day's family devotions. "I've been thinking," said Mom later that evening. "Maybe our family could...

  • Prayers of Praise - 11/27/2013

    "I'll pray today,"offered Tamara as she sat down with her family for breakfast. Dad nodded, so Tamara led in the prayer before they ate. "Dear Jesus, bless this food. Give us good weather and a good time," she prayed, thinking of the outing they had planned for the day. "Don't let the waves be too...

  • Rembrandt Gallery - 11/27/2013

    Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is revered as Holland’s greatest and most prolific baroque artist. Rembrandt was born on July 15, 1606. He was the ninth child of a wealthy family.  His father belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church and his mother was Roman Catholic. His works have a central...

  • Renoir Gallery - 11/27/2013

    The French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was an important member of the Impressionist movement of the nineteenth century. His large body of work includes many portraits of children and women in lively social situations. Move your mouse over the slide show, and the navigation arrows will...

  • Monet Gallery - 11/27/2013

    The French painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) was one of the originators of the Impressionist movement of the nineteenth century. He is most notably known for his nature landscapes, and paintings of Paris and the Normandy coast. Move your mouse over the slide show, and the navigation arrows will appear.The...

  • Marie Antoinette Portrait Gallery - 11/27/2013

    Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was born into Austrian royalty, the youngest daughter of Emperor Francis I and Maria Theresa. As a young teen, she married the grandson of Louis XV, and became Queen of France at the age of nineteen. Here are some of the hundreds of portraits of her during her reign as...

  • For the Gospel’s Sake - 11/26/2013

    Chase nudged his sister Ella. "I wonder why Uncle Kurt moves his eyebrows up and down while he's talking," Chase whispered as their uncle answered a question Dad had asked. "It looks awful funny!" Ella just shrugged. After a moment, Chase ventured a question of his own. "Are you glad to be back from...

  • An Imitator - 11/25/2013

    "Mom, tell Danny to stop," said Susan as she came in the back door with her little brother following her. "Danny, are you teasing your sister again?" Mom asked. "No," replied Danny with his thumb in his mouth. "He is, too!" Susan stomped her foot. "Every time I move, he moves the same way I do....

  • Not Ashamed - 11/24/2013

    "Hey, Aaron!" called Bill from the other side of the playground. "Where were you last night? I called your house at least six times, but you weren't home. I wanted to know if you could go to the mall." "Oh, well . . . we were out," Aaron mumbled. He didn't want to tell Bill he'd been attending missionary...

  • The Bandage Solution - 11/23/2013

    "Hey, Ethan, your mom said we had to pay for the soap and sponges we use," said Lance as the boys got ready to set up a car wash sign in the large vacant lot next to Ethan's house, "so how much do I owe you?" "Nothing," said Ethan. "Mom will never miss the stuff. Let's go." Lance hesitated, but...