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
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
Watermelon Burglar
Read: Psalm 32:1-5
Asher looked up when he heard a knock at the window. Mom was outside motioning for him to join her. He pressed the pause button for his video game and ran out to the backyard.
Mom was standing behind the garage, looking at the ground. “There’s something here I want you to see,” she said, pointing down. “Look at those plants.” Th
Faith Like a Sprinkler
Read: Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 6:26-27; Philippians 4:6-7
“I’m worried I’m not going to pass my math test!” Clara told her dad as they walked barefoot in the grassy yard after dinner.
“You’ve been studying and doing math problems for weeks, Clara,” Dad said. “I’m sure you’ll pass.”
“But I’m not going to be good enough. I just know it!” Clara looke
Why Is My Neighbor So Mean?
Read: Colossians 3:12-14
“Knock off that noise!” Mrs. Steele yelled in Lila’s direction.
Lila was startled. She’d been curled up with a book, reading quietly on the porch. Surely Mrs. Steele wasn’t talking to her. But she was.
Later, when Lila’s dad came home, he noticed that the small windchimes from the front porch were now on the kitchen tab
Alpaca Parade
Read: John 10:25-30
Brayan and his parents lived out in the country, right next door to the McNairs’ alpaca ranch. Brayan was fascinated with the alpacas. He would often sit outside and watch them grazing.
“Brayan!” Mom called to him one day. “Mr. McNair invited you to come over at six-thirty this evening to help feed the alpacas.”
“All right!”
Udderly Content
Read: Philippians 4:11-13
Moooooo.
“Whoa!” Jordan shouted. He’d been so deep in thought that he almost plowed right into a large brown cow standing in the middle of the path.
Uncle Tim appeared in the doorway of the barn. “Oh good, you found Clarice!”
“Well, we kind of found each other,” Jordan said. “She wouldn’t moooove.”
“Good one!” Un
Hiding Something Good
Read: Romans 5:6-8; 8:38-39
Cali opened her eyes. “Ready or not, here I come!”
Her three-year-old sister, Nora, stood behind a scrawny tree hugging her teddy bear. Cali pretended to look around. “Where could Nora be?” she wondered aloud.
Ruff, ruff! Cali’s dog ran out of the house and straight to Nora.
Nora laughed. “Cocoa found me!”
“Lun
Grandma’s Trophies
Read: Matthew 6:19-21
“Look, Malachi!” Nevaeh said as she pulled a small worn book out of an old trunk that had belonged to their great-grandmother. Her voice echoed a little in the big attic where they were cleaning. “This looks like a journal Grandma Baker wrote in. She gave it the title ‘My Trophies.’”
“I wonder what kind of trophies she won,”
Trash or Treasure
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; James 2:1-4, 8-9
“Look what I found!” Juniper called as she ran down the steps of her aunt’s house. She had been looking through a pile of old stuff in the attic that her aunt was going to throw out. “Look! This old fruit jar has 1898 stamped on the bottom!” Juniper said, showing her find to her aunt. “It looks like one I
Cookies and Creation
Read: Genesis 1:1-3, 26-31; John 3:16
“Good morning, Amelia,” Heidi, Amelia’s stepmom, greeted her.
“Good morning.” Amelia rubbed her eyes. “What are you making?” she asked, noticing all the ingredients Heidi had out.
“Breakfast cookies!” Heidi smiled and held up a bag of raisins. “Would you like to help? I need some eggs cracked.”
“Sure,” A
Construction Project
Read: Proverbs 16:19-24
“Milo, listen to me say this verse,” Joel said as he helped his little brother learn a memory verse for Sunday school. He recited each word slowly. “Okay, now see if you can repeat it.”
Milo tried to repeat the verse, but he stumbled over the unfamiliar words. Joel tried to help him, but eventually gave up. “You’re hopeless
Peaceful Sleep
Read: Psalm 139:5-12
Tyler sat up in bed. What’s that noise? he wondered. He and his family had moved to a new house, and now he slept in a strange new room. Somehow he didn’t feel safe the way he had back in his old, familiar home. Tyler heard the noise again. I don’t like this room! I don’t want to sleep here! he thought. He jumped out of bed and b
Disposable Friends
Read: John 15:13-15
Cara took her cookie and a glass of milk into the utility room where Mom was folding laundry. “Mom, can I invite Amber over?” she asked. “She’s my new friend.” Cara dunked the cookie into her milk.
Mom added a towel to the stack on the dryer. “And you probably want to invite Jasmine too, right?”
Cara shook her head. “No, I d
Boot Camp
Read: 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.
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, handing it to Wyatt.
Pen Pals
Read: John 20:24-31; 2 Corinthians 5:7; James 2:23
“We’re going to have pen pals for an English project this semester!” Moriah told her parents. “We each got the name of a kid our age in another state, and we’re supposed to exchange letters—real letters, no texts or emails or anything like that. My pen pal’s name is Ryleigh.”
Moriah sat down that
Clearing the Roadblock
Read: 1 John 1:5-9
Taya sighed loudly when Mom had to stop because of a roadblock. Workers were repairing the bridge ahead, and traffic was temporarily stopped. “How long will we have to wait?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” Mom replied. “It might be a while.”
Taya looked out the window. She saw a red van, a delivery truck, some cars, and a motorcy
Learn from the Birds
Read: Isaiah 40:28-31; Matthew 11:28-30
“Finally, something in science I like learning about!” Marissa loosened the binocular cord around her neck. “I wonder what birds we’ll see on our nature walk?”
Mom headed down the boardwalk at their local nature preserve. “Or what birds we’ll hear!”
“I’m on it.” Troy pulled up the bird call identification
God Isn’t Too Busy
Read: Psalm 55:16-18
“Pick up, Dad.” Harlow held her mom’s phone. “I need to talk to you.”
She heard her dad’s voice and smiled, then she realized it was just his voicemail.
“We’ll try again later,” Mom said. “He must be busy with work.”
Harlow sighed. Ever since her dad had gotten remarried, he was always too busy for her and her sister. Ei
Dead, but Alive
Read: John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10
Stretching sleepily, Camden wondered why he had a strange, empty feeling in his stomach. Then it all came back to him. He glanced over at the empty bed on the other side of the room. It really was true—his brother Aaron was gone. It had been almost a month since Aaron had left for school in the morning and
Graduation and the Gospel
Read: Psalm 27:4; Luke 24:44-49
“And now, I would like to present the class of 2026!”
Kendis squinted to see her sister, Derica, in the crowd of high school graduates donned in robes of black and maroon. She stood next to her mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and grandma, all of whom were cheering and clapping and stomping in response to her sister’s graduat
Weed or Flower?
Read: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
“I hate weeding,” Lynnie huffed, yanking another scraggly weed away from the green beans and throwing it into a pile.
Jayson sat on the soft grass, picking blades and throwing them into the air.
Lynnie watched the wind blow the grass away. “I don’t want to weed anymore, Mom. I want to go play. Weeding is boring.”
Instant Communication
Read: Psalm 5:1-3
“Your science project is looking good,” Grandpa said as he looked over Sophia’s shoulder.
“Thanks,” said Sophia. “I’m calling it ‘Means of Communication.’ It’s about how the ways people communicate with each other over long distances have developed over time.” She pointed to pictures on her display board showing handwritten lette
Trust and Praise
Read: Acts 16:22-26
Gabby’s grandpa was in a lot of pain. His hands were nearly crippled, and he sat in a wheelchair when he was able to get out of bed. Gabby thought she would be miserable if she were in his place, but every time she visited him, he seemed to have a smile on his face.
“How are you so happy all the time?” Gabby asked as she sat in
Who You Know
Read: John 14:1-6
Cadence and Izabel listened intently as Dad read the story of Finn, a very poor boy who lived long ago in a faraway country. “Everyone said the king was very kind,” Dad read, “so Finn decided to go see him and ask for help.
“When Finn arrived at the palace, he was stopped at the gate. He explained that he wanted to see the king,
Not Greek to God
Read: Acts 17:24-27
Allison sang out the words of a song. “Yesu yana kaunar yara.”
“What language is that?” asked her friend Gianna. “Like my grandma always says when she doesn’t understand something, it’s Greek to me!”
Allison laughed. “It’s not Greek,” she said. “It’s Hausa—a language spoken in Africa. I learned that song from my Aunt Mary, w
Everything You Do
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:14, 21-28
Brighton watched as Mom tied the sash of Kayleigh’s sparkly new dress and handed her a basket of flower petals. “It’s not fair,” Brighton muttered. She had never gotten to be a flower girl, but her little sister had been picked for that job in Aunt Erin’s wedding. “All I get to do is stand at the door and hand out pro
A Gift for Mom
Read: Colossians 3:20-25
Daniel plopped down on the top step and scowled. His sister, Nia, found him there. “Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and we don’t have a gift for Mom yet,” she said. “Let’s go see what we can find.”
“I can’t,” Daniel said. “Mom says I can’t go anywhere. I didn’t clean my room right away like she told me to, and then when I did do
The Miracle of Moving
Read: 1 Kings 17:2-9
Ingrid sat slumped on the couch in the empty living room. Her family was next door eating lunch before packing up the moving van.
Aunt Kristin burst in holding a plate of brownies.
“Nothing will cheer me up,” Ingrid declared, turning her back to her.
“Not even my world-famous brownies?” Aunt Kristin cried.
Ingrid shoo
Eggs-Ray Vision
Read: Psalm 139:1-3
Ryan and his mom were having boiled eggs for lunch. Ryan watched the eggs impatiently as they rolled around in the saucepan. “How long do they take to boil?” he asked. “I’m so hungry!”
“Well, that depends on how you like them,” answered Mom. “Three minutes for a runny egg, and around ten minutes if you prefer them hard-boiled.
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