Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families
Keys for Kids is a daily storytelling show based on the daily Keys for Kids children's devotional. Hosted by Zach, this podcast combines Scripture readings with captivating stories that illustrate essential Biblical principles. With Zach's creative voices bringing characters to life, listeners embark on a faith-filled journey. Tune in to discover the keys to growing in faith and understanding God's love. Produced by Keys for Kids Ministries, this podcast is a treasure trove to help young hearts grow closer to God.
Episodes
Passing Tests
Read: Matthew 4:1-11
“I’ll probably fail our math test today,” Carter told Lucy as they walked to school. “I’m really bad at multiplication.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Lucy. “But I’m not going to fail. Want to know why?” She slid a card from under the cuff of her sleeve. “See? The multiplication tables are all right here!” She grinned. “I’ve got an ext
Hurting Hearts
Read: Romans 12:9-15
“What’s wrong, Elijah?” Mom asked as Elijah got in the car.
Elijah sighed. “Mrs. Lewis told our class that Henry won’t be in school for a few days. His dad had a heart attack and died early this morning.”
Mom gasped. “Oh no! That’s awful.”
Elijah nodded. “Principal Brown came and told us he went to Henry’s house this mor
A Sharp Sword
Read: Ephesians 6:13-17; Hebrews 4:12-13
“We had a missionary from Guatemala in my class today,” Maverick said as his family drove home from church. “He showed us a machete. It was big—and he said it was very sharp.”
“What’s a shetty?” asked Maverick’s little sister.
“Not shetty, Charis—machete,” Maverick corrected her. “It’s something like a s
Remember Me
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-27
“Hey, Dad,” said Parker as he and his family were on their way home from a visit with their grandmother, “what do you want written on your tombstone?”
“What a question!” said Mom. “Why are you asking that?”
Parker laughed. “While you were visiting with Grandma, Sadie and I went to the cemetery across the street, rem
Patrick the Scarecrow
Read: Psalm 121
“Why are we making a scarecrow for the garden?” Cora asked her grandma as she put in some more stuffing.
“Well, the scarecrow helps keep the garden safe from crows. The crows love to pull up the sprouts just as they’re popping out of the ground, but when they see the scarecrow, they’re afraid to come into the garden.”
“So the sc
Like a Brother
Read: Romans 10:9-14
“Mom, can I go play at the park with Logan?” asked Michael.
Mom laughed. “Logan, Logan, Logan. Ever since you met him, all I hear is ‘Logan.’”
“He’s lots of fun,” said Michael. “I think we’re going to be really good friends. It almost feels like he’s the brother I never had.”
“Well, he seems like a nice kid,” said Mom. “
Clenched Fists and Open Hands
Read: Job 12:9-13
Alicia tried to peel back her baby sister’s fingers. “Mom left me to watch you for five minutes, and you’re already trying to take something you shouldn’t.”
Bella’s hands were in tight fists, and it was hard for Alicia to get back the little ball that belonged with her dollhouse. “You could choke on that. You don’t want it.”
A
How Dirty We Are!
Read: Psalm 37:23-24; Jeremiah 18:1-6
“I like coming to visit you, Grandma,” Olivia said as she sprayed more cleaner onto her rag.
“It’s nice having you here,” said Grandma. “Miss Cindy was glad for your help with the younger children at youth camp. She wondered if you’d be interested in leading the children’s class at church this week.” She picke
Night Servant
Read: Psalm 134; Colossians 3:17, 23-24
The church building was dark and empty. Mandy’s mom turned on all the lights. Mandy followed her down to the cleaning supply closet in the basement. “I’ll start in the bathrooms,” Mom said. “How about you mop and dust upstairs? And try to finish a little faster this week, okay?”
Mandy wandered slowly upstair
Roots and All
Read: Romans 6:11-14
James looked up from his job of pulling dandelions as his friend Alex pedaled his bike up the driveway. “Hey,” called Alex. “Let’s go to the splash pad at the park.”
“Can’t,” James replied. “My mom says she’s sick of seeing yellow dandelions instead of green grass, and I have to get rid of them.” He held up the tool he was usi
A Listening Ear
Read: Psalm 34:15-17; 55:16-17
As Colin sat down to begin his homework, he heard his little sister whining in the kitchen. He began to study, but all the noise his sister was making distracted him. Then Colin heard his mother’s voice. “Kinsley, I want you to stop whining.” Colin returned to his homework, but soon he heard his sister again.
Colin g
Total Eclipse
Read: John 1:1-9; Romans 8:38-39
Reid came to a stop, panting. He’d been playing tag with his cousins for the last twenty minutes. They were playing outside while they watched the solar eclipse. He took advantage of the pause in play to grab his cardboard glasses, adjust them to cover his eyes, and look up at the sky. The sun was now half-covered by
Aria’s Fall
Read: Proverbs 16:16-20
“Has anyone seen my math book?” asked Aria. “I can’t find it anywhere.” But no one had seen it, and Aria finally remembered she had left it at Zoe’s house. My perfect homework record will be ruined! she thought miserably. She always had her homework done at the beginning of class each day. Maybe if I stayed home sick tomorrow,
The Secret Vacuum
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11
The broom swished across the kitchen floor as Mom worked to gather the crumbs and dirt from under the table. Ethan, Evan, and Everett sat nearby watching.
“Wow, Mom,” Everett said. “That’s a lot of crumbs.”
Mom laughed. “That’s what happens when three hungry boys live here.” She swept everything into a little pile, then wal
God’s Creation
Read: Psalm 139:13-18; Ephesians 2:8-10
After church, Elizabeth and Mom climbed into the car. “I liked my class today,” Elizabeth said. “It was lots of fun.”
“Good,” said Mom. “Tell me about it.”
“We learned about a Bible story, and we sang some songs.” Elizabeth began to hum one of them.
Mom grinned. “I know that song! I think it’s one of t
Love Like Muffin’s
Read: Luke 6:27-36
“Muffie!” yelled two-year-old Reya as she toddled into the living room. She plunked down on the floor next to Muffin, the family dog. Reya reached out a chubby hand and pulled Muffin’s fluffy brown tail. Muffin didn’t bite or even growl. She just moved away as quickly as she could, lying down by the fireplace. Reya followed. She tu
No Joke
Read: James 5:16-18
“I wish I had a hundred dollars to put in the offering tomorrow!” Isabella told her mom. “The missionaries we’re collecting money for really need it, and I want to help them care for people and tell them about Jesus.”
“If you’ll clean the cupboards for me this afternoon, I’ll pay you—not a hundred dollars, but a little,” said M
Show Your Colors
Read: James 4:4-10
“Hey there, Noah,” Mr. Davis called from his yard as Noah passed by his neighbor’s house. “Problems? You don’t look very happy.”
Noah walked over to talk with him. “My friends are all mad at me,” he said. “Some of my school friends told some of the kids at church that I said bad things about them.”
“And did you?” Mr. Davis as
Always There
Read: Psalm 145:18-19; Romans 8:38-39
“It’s gone!” Abigail 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 as they walked down their street.
Soph
Temporary Tents
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:1-5
“Hey, kids, how about a camping trip to the mountains this weekend?” Dad asked enthusiastically at the dinner table one night.
“I’m in!” yelled Rico. He wanted to get his vote in before his older sister said something negative.
Sure enough, Cara frowned. “Dad, remember the last time we went camping? Our tent coll
Four Legs Are Better than Two
Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Chan walked into the six-inch-deep stream right behind his friend Oliver. The water filled his shoes and stuck his pants to his ankles. The round stones shifted under his feet as he slogged through the water.
Further downstream the rocks became larger and rougher, the ground more uneven, and the water muddy. Chan felt aro
So Much Love
Read: Romans 5:6-11
Oh no! Poor little bird! Aelin thought when she noticed a bird fluttering around in the grass. It’s hurt. I think it has a broken wing. Maybe I can help it. She picked up her butterfly net and tried to catch the bird, moving slowly and quietly toward it. But each time she got close, it flapped its wings and wiggled out of her reac
The Talking Tools
Read: Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 4:8-11
“Your friend Mason is really growing in his faith, isn’t he? It’s been fun to see him plug in at church,” Uncle Ken said as Aiden helped him replace the worn-out boards on the porch.
“Yeah,” Aiden said.
“His solo with the junior choir was great,” Uncle Ken said between creaks and squeaks as he pulled nails
Even Better
Read: Philippians 1:21-26; Revelation 22:3-5
On the way home from church, Joanna noticed her brother staring out the window. “What’s wrong, Derek? You’ve hardly said a word since we got in the car.”
Derek sighed. “I was just thinking about what Pastor Kevin said about Jesus coming again.”
Joanna frowned. “Don’t you want Him to come?”
“Sure…s
Share Jesus
Read: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 9:37; 16:15
Hudson dribbled his basketball up the driveway, aiming for the hoop above the garage. As the ball swished through the net, he glanced next door. The new girl was at the window again. She always seemed to be watching, especially on weekends when his family left for church.
One afternoon, Hudson was riding hi
Twice Adopted
Read: Galatians 4:4-7
Morgan never got tired of hearing what happened when her parents took her home from the adoption agency. “You were only six weeks old,” her dad told her one evening when she begged to hear the story again. “I’ll never forget when the agency called to say they had a baby for us. I was at work, and I was so excited I forgot to ask
Braving the Storm
Read: Psalm 46:1-7
“I miss our old house,” said Tomás. He sighed as he thought about why they had moved into a trailer on Grandpa’s farm. First his little brother, Felix, was seriously injured in a car accident. Then the company Dad worked for went bankrupt, and it had taken him quite a while to find a new job. Tomás knew living in the trailer on the
Hearing God Everywhere
Read: Job 12:7-10; Psalm 96:11-13; 2 Peter 1:16-21
“Why are we lying on the trampoline?” Penny asked her dad as she looked up at the sky. “All I see is a couple clouds. And it’s so creepy and quiet.”
“There are clouds, you’ve got that part right. But I don’t think the silence is creepy. Let’s listen for a few moments and see what specific sounds y
Ungluing Hurts
Read: Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33
Hailey knew she should ask for help before trying out her new manicure set, but she couldn’t wait. She needed something to take her mind off the bad day she’d had. She spilled the glittery nails onto her desk, and without bothering to read the directions, she grabbed the glue and unscrewed it.
“What’s wrong with this g
Dirty Connection
Read: Luke 11:37-39
“Sean, the family shelter downtown needs donations. I’ve collected some items. How about donating some of your toys?”
Sean knelt in front of his toy box. “I don’t have any toys I want to give away, Mom.”
“What about this car?” Mom asked. “I haven’t seen you playing with it in a while, and I’m sure any little boy would love t
A Delightful Aroma
Read: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
A delicious aroma drifted through the door as Audrey walked into the house. She inhaled deeply, wondering for a minute what it was. I know—apple pie! Maybe Mom will let me have a piece before supper. Her stomach growled as she went into the kitchen. No Mom. No apple pies either.
Audrey found her mother in the living roo
Bikes and Boasting
Read: Psalm 34:1-3; Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Hey, Joel!” shouted Micah from the other side of the parking lot at school.
“What’s up?” Joel asked as the two of them began to walk toward the school building together.
“I was wondering if you’d like to come to my house after school,” Micah said. “I got a new bike for my birthday, so maybe you could bring
Still Shining
Read: 1 Peter 1:23-25
“I can’t believe Grandma gave me a Bible for my birthday!” Ethan said as he and his older brother Sam walked home from the library. “What am I gonna do with that?”
“Well, you could read it,” Sam said.
Ethan laughed. “How could an old book written thousands of years ago have anything to say to us today? Dad is always sayin
All Roads Lead to Rome (Part 2)
Read: Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23; 1 John 5:9-12
After enjoying a picnic lunch, Uncle Don pointed toward the paths around the picnic area. “Do you remember which path we took to get here?”
“It was the one by the swings,” Kennedy said.
Elliot disagreed. “It was the one by that flowering bush over there.”
“Nuh-uh! I remember seeing the swings right
All Roads Lead to Rome (Part 1)
Read: John 14:6; Acts 17:10-12
“It’s so pretty here!” Kennedy told her aunt and uncle as she gazed around the picnic area. She turned to her brother. “Don’t you wish we could live in the Rockies, Elliot?”
“It sure is nice,” Elliot said. “Look—I guess everybody likes this spot. There are paths coming here from all directions. It’s just like the cit
With Love
Read: 1 Corinthians 13
“Keira, let me help you with that.” Alexis reached for a pile of laundry needing to be folded. “It will earn me points for my youth group contest. I want to get the most points so I can win!” One of the ways kids in the youth group could earn points was by helping the members of their family.
Keira frowned and batted her si
Walking Home
Read: Psalm 23
Owen looked at the frail man on the bed. Grandpa’s getting so weak, he thought. I know he’s going to die soon. “Are you afraid, Grandpa?” he asked.
“No, Owen.” Grandpa smiled as he reached for Owen’s hand. “I’m not afraid to die. Jesus is with me. I’m going home to be with Him.”
Owen nodded, but he thought he’d be afraid anyway.
Pretty Presents
Read: Romans 12:1-2
“Whoa!” Vivian exclaimed when she saw the pile of things her mother had laid out on the table. “Is Gracie getting all of that for her birthday?”
Mom nodded. “Grandma brought some of it over. She found a lot of things on sale, so your little niece is probably getting more than she needs. I offered to wrap Grandma’s gifts for her
Flickering Fireflies
Read: Matthew 5:14-16
The evening was cool and clear. The earthy smell of the forest filled the air, and stars shone brightly through the trees. A group of boys and their teacher lingered around the dying campfire at their youth group retreat. “Wow!” Joshua said, craning his head back. “The stars are really bright tonight.”
Enoch looked up toward
After Snowbunny
Read: 1 Peter 5:5-11
Whiskers, Lincoln’s kitten, leaped into the air and batted the shoestring Lincoln was swinging back and forth. “I don’t care how nice Todd is, no one can ever take Dad’s place,” Lincoln told Uncle Shawn. “I don’t want a stepfather.” He sighed. His dad had died a few years before, and now his mom was getting remarried.
“Todd is
Brothers and Sisters
Read: Matthew 5:43-44; Galatians 6:9-10
Nora let the door bang shut just as her brother reached it. “Well, thanks,” Lloyd said sarcastically.
“You never hold the door open for me,” said Nora.
“You never hold the door open for me,” echoed Lloyd.
Nora scowled. “Don’t copy me.”
“Don’t copy me.”
“Stop it, Lloyd!” yelled Nora.
“Stop it,
A Constant Friend
Read: Psalm 145:17-20; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
On Friday, Noah had an invitation to a birthday party and another to a sleepover—and he couldn’t go to both. It was hard choosing between his friends, and he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Then on Sunday, Noah tried contacting his friends to see if anyone wanted to hang out, but they were all busy.
Accepting the Scenic Route
Read: Deuteronomy 8:2-5; 29:2-6
“Where are we going, Grandma?” Daisy asked.
Grandma opened the gate separating her backyard from the woods behind it.
“A place you’ll enjoy,” she replied with a smile.
As they walked through the woods, Daisy noticed little chipmunks scurrying up tree trunks, making her giggle. When the wind whistled through th
Take Out the Trash
Read: Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19
Dad closed the trunk of the car. “Okay, everything’s packed. Let’s go!”
“Wait!” Mom called. “Aria and Nolan, please empty the trash in the bedrooms and kitchen before we leave.”
“I’ll get the bedrooms,” Aria said.
Nolan went to the kitchen and glanced at the trash bag. It wasn’t even full. I’ll empty it when we
Hospitality Habits
Read: Romans 12:9-13
Hannah gave herself a quick look in the mirror while Faith twirled around in her new skirt. “Girls!” Mom called. “Our company is almost here!” The sisters giggled and raced down the hall.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Kelly arrived with her daughter Brittany, who was about the girls’ age, and Brittany’s little sister, Samantha. Th
From Sunflower to Son-Follower
Read: Mark 2:13-15; John 3:36
Reagan peered out the window, wearing her soccer uniform and munching on a sandwich. Dad’s car pulled up and honked. It was Dad’s week to watch her.
“Bye, Mom!” Reagan hollered. She slung her bag over her shoulder and ran outside.
“Dad! I learned something so cool!” Reagan said, plopping her bag at her feet. She ba
Falling Seed
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-8
“Tell me, kids—if something good happened to you, would you keep it to yourself?” Mr. Miller asked his class at church.
“No!” came the answer as all the kids shook their heads.
“We like to share our good news with our friends, don’t we?” Mr. Miller continued. “Yet when it comes to the greatest news of all—Jesus saving
Canning the Word
Read: Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14-17
“What a summer this has turned out to be!” said Leah. “When we moved to the country, I thought I’d be riding horses and wading in the creek. But lately it seems like all I’ve been doing is snapping beans, husking corn, shelling peas, and now peeling peaches for canning and freezing.”
Mom smiled. “I think y
Bianca’s Baby Book
Read: Psalm 103:11-12; Malachi 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“Look, Bianca!” Mom was sitting on the couch with a big book on her lap. “Here’s a lock of your hair from when you were three months old—and look at your footprint from when you were born.”
Bianca grinned. “Wow! It’s really tiny! That’s my baby book, isn’t it? It’s been a long time since
All Things
Read: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 8:28, 38-39
Kate squeezed sand between her toes as she watched a young mother swing her daughter around and catapult her into the water. The girl giggled and called out for more. Kate looked at her mom and remembered when she was strong and healthy enough to do the same thing with her. Now if Mom wanted to get in the wa
Consider the Cost
Read: 1 Peter 1:18-21
“Yum!” Hazel said as her mom set a bowl of bright red strawberries on the table. They had just gotten home from the Fourth of July parade and were enjoying a snack on the patio.
“Can we go see the fireworks tonight?” Ollie asked as he popped a strawberry into his mouth. “And can Zane come with us?”
“As a matter of fact, we
New Baby
Read: Psalm 139:7-12
Peyton loved her new baby brother, Josiah, but lately it seemed like Mom and Dad didn’t have time for her anymore. She and her mom used to do things together, just the two of them. But now all Mom seemed to be able to do was focus on Josiah. He had some health problems that required much of her parents’ time.
When Dad got home
Camp Rumble-Grumble
Read: Daniel 12:3; Philippians 2:12-16
The dark sky over Star Mountain Camp rumbled with thunder.
“Macaroni and cheese, everybody freeze!” Sam, the camp counselor, called out over the rowdy summer campers. It had been raining all week, and everyone was getting restless.
“For this next game, I’ll need volunteers,” Sam announced. Hands shot up al
The Hidden Eagle
Read: Jeremiah 18:3-6
“What are you making, Grandpa?” Elena asked, walking over to the porch swing where her grandfather was shaving slivers from a small block of wood.
Grandpa held it up to show her. “There’s an eagle trapped in this wood, and I’m setting it free.”
Elena looked closely at the block in his hands and then up at Grandpa. “I don’t
God’s Word and Glasses
Read: Psalm 119:129-133
“How about this pair, Mom?” Lizzie asked. She slid the glasses onto her face and peeked in the eye doctor’s mirror.
“Those look nice on you.” Mom held up another pair. “But try these frames on first before you decide which ones you want.”
“Isn’t it funny,” Lizzie said as she stared at her reflection, “how much we care ab
Waiting for the One Who Knows What to Do
Read: Psalm 37:3-7
Something was rubbing against the chain when Lyle tried to ride his bike, and with his mom’s medical bills piling up, there was no way his family could afford a new one.
“Dad said he would fix that.” His sister’s voice came from behind him as he started to work on the bike himself.
“He’s looking over the budget again,” Lyle s
New Clothes
Read: Ephesians 4:21-25; Colossians 3:9-10
Camden and Callie grinned at each other as Mom pulled the car up to the sandy shores of the lake. They grabbed their shovels, raced to the edge of the sparkling water, and began to create castles with deep moats in the sand.
Suddenly, Camden cried out in pain and covered his eyes. “What’s the matter, swee
Spilled Words
Read: Proverbs 15:1-4; James 1:19-21, 26
Gemma looked in horror as her chocolate milkshake began to spread over the table. “Why can’t you leave my stuff alone, Elle?” she yelled at her sister.
“I didn’t mean to spill it,” said Elle. Her lower lip was trembling. “I just wanted a taste.”
Mom unrolled some paper towels and took them to the table.
Seasoned Blessings
Read: Matthew 5:13-16
“What are you doing, Auntie Laura?” Deb clambered onto the stool for a better look at the lemon her aunt was grating. “You said you’d make blueberry muffins…but you’re putting in lemon peel?” Deb grimaced.
“It’s my secret ingredient,” replied Aunt Laura, tapping strands of lemon skin into the batter.
Deb’s grimace remaine
Speaking Up for Alli
Read: Romans 12:4-8
Dallon grinned when he saw the mascot of his favorite baseball team coming toward them near the stadium entrance. “Look, Alli!” he said.
But Dallon’s excitement turned to anger when the mascot gave him a high five but didn’t even acknowledge Alli. “Hey,” he called after him, “you didn’t talk to my sister!”
His aunt touched h
Wings
Read: Isaiah 40:28-31
Liam looked out the window of his friend Michael’s house as they finished their lunch. “Look at those trees,” he said. “They’re bending over from the wind.”
“So were we, a few minutes ago,” said Michael.
“It’s too hard to play ball with this much wind. I’m tired. We’ll have to think of something to do inside.” Liam pulled
Dog Wash
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:8-9
Millee grunted as she helped her aunt lift the heavy dog into the tub. Titan was a giant, and it took both her and Aunt Jodie to pick him up.
Millee turned on the handheld sprayer while her aunt mixed the soaps. Aunt Jodie was a dog groomer, and a few times a year Millee would bring her long-haired dog ove
Inspiring Others
Read: 1 Timothy 4:8-12
Abby was happy with herself for coming up with a good morning routine. Each morning before she went down for breakfast, she picked up her Bible from her nightstand and read a bit from it, and then she prayed. It felt good to connect with God before she even talked to anyone in her family.
Abby knew her aunt had been doing so
More Than Words
Read: James 1:22-25
After a delicious lunch on Father’s Day, Ophelia joined the rest of her family to watch Dad open his presents.
“Open mine first, Daddy,” Evelyn said eagerly. “I made you a picture.”
“Don’t tell,” said Ophelia, but everyone laughed as Evelyn insisted on helping her father open the package containing the picture she had drawn
Training Baxter
Read: Psalm 143:8-10; Titus 2:11-14
Austin’s black Labrador tilted his head to one side and lifted his front paw. “No, not shake! Lie down! Can’t you learn anything?” Austin sighed. “Let’s try something else. Fetch, Baxter! Fetch!” Austin hurled a ball across the yard, and Baxter raced after it. Before it dropped to the ground, Baxter leaped into the
Image
Read: Genesis 1:26-31
Layna held her position as she landed a pirouette, the final move in the dance. She pushed her bellybutton as far back to her spine as she could, gazing at herself in the mirror. Her eyes then followed down the line of girls. She stood a head taller than any of them, and though she tried, she couldn’t get her stomach in far enou
Caden’s Gift
Read: Acts 11:27-30
Caden tugged his mom’s sleeve in the church hallway. “I need some money for our offering.”
“Okay,” Mom said, opening her purse. Caden took the money she held out and dashed off to class.
“I’m guessing many of you get your offering money from your parents,” Mrs. Hallman said after the class had taken the offering. “I have a s
The Good Leader
Read: Psalm 61:1-8
Reid sighed happily at the sound of a mountain stream trickling nearby. “I sure love hiking!” he said.
“Me too!” said his twin sister, Nicole. “It’s so pretty out here today!”
“Yeah,” said Reid. “I’m so glad school is over for the summer so we can do this again!”
“Hey, you two, don’t get too far ahead!” Dad called from fur
Beyond What You See
Read: 1 Peter 3:3-4
Luca’s grandfather patted the tire of the four-wheeler he had purchased. “I found this quad online and got a good deal on it,” he said with a smile.
Luca wasn’t so sure. The fenders were dented, and the seat had a tear in it. The rack behind the seat was bent, and a headlight was cracked. “It doesn’t look very good,” he said. “
Peace in the Midst of Noise
Read: Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 2:1-4
Lisbeth was shocked at the amount of noise that hit her ears when she stepped into the animal shelter behind her best friend. She had never heard so much barking before.
“It’s not always like this,” Jenna said. She had been volunteering for a long time, but this was the first time Lisbeth had come with her
It’s Not My Job!
Read: Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 20:28
“Jordan, could you please put Athena’s toys away while I give her a bath?” called Mom as she carried Jordan’s little sister to the bathroom.
Jordan groaned. He was right in the middle of a video game. He slammed his controller down and stomped into his baby sister’s room. “This is so unfair!” he said as he threw A
The Garden
Read: Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26; Philippians 4:4-8
"I hate that we don’t have money to do stuff!” Don wailed when he saw his mom in the garden. It was the last day of school, a day he’d looked forward to, but he came home pouting. He sat down beside Mom in a huff. “I love summer, but I hate hearing about all the cool stuff my friends get to do. One of the
Wrinkle-Free
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
When he got home from school, Jason found his mom in the laundry room. “How was your day?” Mom asked as she looked up from a shirt she was ironing.
“Terrible!” said Jason. “I failed a math test and have to take it over again. Then I found out my favorite teacher is moving away. And then I accidentally knocked down the pri
Tasty Devotions
Read: Psalm 1:1-3; 119:97-104
Naomi couldn’t wait! Any minute now the bus would arrive to take her and her dad to the chocolate factory. “Do you think we’ll get to taste any chocolate?” she asked eagerly.
“I’m sure there will be some samples,” her father replied. “But don’t get too excited. We won’t eat more than a few bites, most likely.”
Naom
Hope’s Blue Cast
Read: Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 8:28-30
Hope sat on the porch swing, staring at the blue cast on her arm. It stretched from her wrist to above her elbow and was covered in scribbled messages and doodles from her friends.
She held out her arm and frowned. “This is not how I wanted to spend my summer.”
Dad sat down beside her, holding two popsicles.
The Lighthouse
Read: Psalm 18:28; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6
“We’re almost there!” said Jeff. He sprinted along the path toward the lighthouse in Peggy’s Cove. He crossed the large flat rocks surrounding the building. He didn’t notice his mom pause to help his little sister, Sarah, clamber onto a boulder. While his family admired the ocean, Jeff climbed a few con
No Teasing
Read: Romans 12:10-15
Emerson angrily kicked a stone and sent it flying along the sidewalk. When he heard someone coming up behind him, he turned and saw that it was Isaac, one of his classmates. “You mad about something?” Isaac asked when he saw how upset Emerson looked. “What’s wrong?”
Emerson sighed and kicked another stone. “I’m just so sick o
Slug Bug
Read: Numbers 13:25-33; 14:6-9
“Slug bug blue!” Zac exclaimed when he spied a blue Volkswagen. As he spoke, he slugged his brother Teague, who was sitting beside him. The boys were playing their favorite game on the way home from school—seeing who could spot a Volkswagen first and slug the other guy. They kept count to see who got the most.
Violet
Come and See
Read: John 1:44-49
“Hey, Tristan,” Antonio called as he caught up with his friend in the school hallway. “There’s going to be a special kids’ program at my church on Sunday. There’s going to be music and games and prizes and other cool stuff. Why don’t you come?”
“Nah,” said Tristan as he stopped to get some books out of his locker. “I’m gonna wat
Laws of Bread
Read: Hebrews 10:1-10, 17-18
“Mom, in Sunday school today we learned about Abraham and Isaac.” Myra climbed onto the stool and watched as Mom kneaded some dough.
“Which story did you learn about?” Mom asked.
“The one where Abraham almost sacrifices Isaac. God was just testing Abraham to see if he would give up his son for Him, so He didn’t let
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