Bible Reading: Exodus 20:12-15; Ephesians 4:25-32

Alastair walked into the kitchen where his sister Stasia was doing homework. "Emerson got in trouble again," said Alastair. "I can't believe he's going to flunk math over this!"

Stasia looked up in surprise. "Over what? What did he do?"

"Mr. Hoover caught him looking at somebody's paper during a test," Alastair replied. "Emerson said he was just checking one or two answers. That's all. I think Mr. Hoover just hates Emerson, so he's making a big deal out of nothing."

"Well, if Emerson was caught cheating, what did he expect?" Stasia asked.

"It's not like he was stealing somebody's money during gym class," said Alastair, trying to make his sister understand. "Other kids in school do a lot worse stuff than what Emerson did."

Alastair turned to Mom, who was loading the dishwasher. "Can you hand me a glass, Mom? I'd like some juice."

"Sure," said Mom, and she handed him a dirty glass.

Alastair grimaced. "Yuck! I can't drink out of this. There's still dried milk in the bottom of it."

"But it's cleaner than these others that need to be washed," Mom said.

Alastair didn't say anything right away. He was pretty sure this had something to do with what they were just talking about, and he was trying to figure out what it was.

"After all," Mom continued, "if cheating is no big deal because it doesn't seem as bad as what somebody else did, then a little dried milk in a glass shouldn't be a big deal either, as long as it's not as dirty as the other glasses."

"Oh, well, I…um…" Alastair didn't know what to say.

"It can be easy for us to excuse the wrongdoing of our friends--and especially our own wrongs--because someone else did something that seems worse," Mom explained. "But it's all sin in God's eyes. After all, cheating is stealing too--it's stealing the work someone else did and claiming it as your own, which is a sin, and it hurts them just as much as if you were stealing their money."

Alastair nodded. "Sorry, Mom." He looked at the glass in his hand. "I guess I'll wait to have some juice, since all the glasses are dirty."

–Mike A. Dize

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35-39

Micah ran into the house and threw his backpack on the kitchen table. "Mom! Do we have any frozen pizza?"

He cocked his head. The house was silent. He looked down and noticed Mom's phone on the counter. That's weird, he thought. She usually carries it with her.

Micah walked back to his parents' bedroom and knocked. Mom opened the door. "Oh, hi, honey. I didn't hear you come in."

"You left your phone in the kitchen, Mom."

"I know, Micah," said Mom. "I was praying, and I didn't want to be disturbed."

"Praying? In the middle of the day?"

Mom smiled. "I always have prayer time while your sister naps. I'm usually finished before the bus drops you off. I guess I had a lot to tell God today!"

"But we pray together--at the dinner table, and at church. Isn't that enough?"

"Praying together is very important, but the Bible says to pray without ceasing--that means continually connecting with Him and seeking His wisdom in our lives. So it's good to spend time with Him on our own too. I find it helpful to have a place of solitude to do that. Even Jesus needed a quiet space sometimes--he often went onto a mountain to pray."

Micah considered this. "Maybe I should find a place of solitude too!"

First Micah tried the living room. He sat on the couch, closed his eyes, and--

"Hey, Micah!" His little sister Sophie plopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. "Time for my cartoons!"

Next Micah tried his bedroom. He shoved the toys off the bed, closed his eyes, and--

A big wet tongue gave his cheek a slobbery kiss.

"Not now, Puddles!" Micah laughed and scratched the old hound dog behind the ears. "I'm looking for solitude--but this house is too crowded!" A swirl of rustling leaves outside the window caught his eye. "I've got it!" he said and ran out of the house.

He climbed the strong branches of the oak tree and closed his eyes, feeling the spring breeze brush his face. Jesus climbed a mountain to find solitude, thought Micah. I only have to climb a tree!

–Jennifer Dillard

Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:11-13

Isaiah sat at the table ready to eat breakfast. While his mom poured a bowl of cereal, he noticed something about her that felt as familiar as her ears; he noticed the silver chain around her neck with a small dice charm at the end.

"Mom, why do you always wear that necklace?" Isaiah asked.

Mom slid the bowl of cereal and a spoon across the table. "Good question," she said as she poured her own bowl of cereal. "Do you remember my grandpa, your Great-Grandpa Anderson?"

"Kind of," Isaiah said. "Didn't he die when I was really little?"

"Yes," Mom said. "When you were three. I wear this to remember him."

"Doesn't it just make you sad?" Isaiah asked as he picked up his spoon.

"I do feel sad," Mom answered. "And that's okay. I miss him so much. When I see this dice charm, I remember the way he loved me no matter what. I remember how he took broken things and restored them, like that classic car that's still in your great-grandma's garage. When he bought the car, it was basically a pile of rust. But when he finished his work, the car gleamed and looked new, and he hung fuzzy dice from the rearview mirror. These are things I want to remember, things that remind me not only of my grandpa, but also of Jesus and how He loves us and restores us."

"I'm going to think of that story now when I look at your necklace too," Isaiah said.

As he munched another spoonful of cereal, Mom said, "A lot of the Bible is about remembering--remembering who God is and what He has done, remembering His love and promises. While we're sad about sin and pain, diseases and death, reading the Bible helps us remember the past and have hope for the future."

"I feel sad when I think about Joel's little brother having leukemia," Isaiah said. "Is there a Bible story that can give me and Joel some hope?"

"Jesus healed many people when He was on earth, and those healings point to His promise to end pain, sickness, and death forever when He comes again." Mom reached for her Bible. "I'll look up some stories and verses we can read together when you get home from school."

–Rachel Lubow

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:8-14

Iris pointed to an oak tree along the bike path where she was riding with her dad and her brother, Ethan. "Half the leaves on that tree are green, and half are brown!" she said.

Ethan laughed. "I guess it can't decide whether it's spring or fall."

Dad stopped his bike under the tree. "Those brown leaves are left over from last year," he said. "This kind of oak is very unwilling to let its leaves drop in the fall. Even the strong winds and heavy snowfall of winter are often unable to tear them from the branches."

"Well, the tree would look nicer if it would just let those ugly, useless old leaves drop," said Iris.

"Maybe the tree is a lot like us," said Dad. "Sometimes we cling to ugly things too--like sinful thoughts and actions."

"Like calling people bad names," said Ethan. "You do that, Iris."

Iris sighed "I know," she said, "but at least I don't go around pointing out other people's faults and ignoring my own." She frowned at her brother.

"Okay, I admit it," said Ethan. "I don't know why I always notice the mistakes others make more than the good stuff they do."

As they got back on their bikes, Iris asked, "What makes those brown leaves finally fall? I know they don't stay on the tree all summer."

"When new leaves grow and cover the tree, they push the old ones off," replied Dad. "The old ones must give way to the new--and you know what? Our lives as Christians are like that too. The Bible says our old habits and desires are sinful, like dead leaves. But when we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us into new creations and puts His love and desires in our hearts, like fresh leaves in the spring."

"So we want the new leaves in our lives to push off the dead ones?" asked Iris.

Dad nodded. "The tree grows new leaves by giving more energy and nutrients to the new growth," he explained. "And Jesus gives us the power to let go of our old ways and live in a way that shows others the new life we have in Him."

–Trudy Vander Veen

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:31; 2:1-3; Hebrews 12:2-3

Ari smudged a grey blotch in the sky painted on his canvas. "Can't get this right," he said to himself.

Mom looked in at his bedroom door. "Did you finish your math?" Ari nodded. "Looks like you finished your painting for the art fair," Mom said. Ari shook his head, and Mom left.

Four-year-old Becca ran into the room holding a teapot. "Time for tea!" she yelled over and over while running in circles around Ari's easel.

"Becca! You're a nuisance! Go away!" he growled. Becca fell silent. She stood still and stared at Ari, then quietly left the room with the teapot hanging down by her side.

Ari's shoulders drooped. He set down his brush and went to Becca's room. "I'm sorry, Becca. I shouldn't have yelled at you. You're not a nuisance. I'd like some tea."

Becca skipped over to a little table set for tea. "Oh, goody! That's your green cup."

After two cups of pretend tea and cake, Ari felt pretend full. "Your tea is good, Becca, but I have to work on my painting now. Okay?" Becca nodded.

Later Mom came in to look at Ari's painting while he fussed with lines on a tree trunk. "I can't get this right," he said. "I'll never finish. It's a good thing God isn't like me, or the earth never would've gotten created. Just think, Mom, He didn't have to correct anything. He didn't make any mistakes."

"And He knew when He was done," Mom added.

"I don't think I'll ever be done with this painting." Ari sighed. "Or with doing things wrong. I yelled at Becca again this morning. I said I was sorry, but I wish I'd be kind to her to begin with."

"Ari, you do wrong things because we're all still dealing with sin in this world. But you're like an art project of God's. Because He's your Savior and Lord, He'll finish His project in you the same way He finished making the world. The Bible says God started a good work in you and will complete it perfectly on the day Jesus returns."

Ari smiled and began to clean his brushes. "I can't make my art perfect, but I'm glad I have a perfect Creator who's working on me."

–Laura Roesler

Bible Reading: Mark 4:35-41

BOOM! Seven-year-old Carter sat up in bed. Rain spattered against the window, and lightning streaks made his room as bright as day. He could see his favorite teddy bear propped in a corner. BOOM! Another loud crash of thunder. Carter burrowed under his covers, a pillow pressed over his ears.

From under the blankets, Carter peeked toward the wall where the rosy glow of a nightlight usually shone, but between flashes of lightning, only blackness filled the room. Cautiously, he poked the button of a little table lamp near his bed, but instead of warm, friendly light, there was nothing. Trembling, he buried himself even deeper in his bed.

Rain poured down harder outside, sounding as if someone were hurling tennis balls against the house. Wide awake now, Carter wondered if he dared make a run for his parents' room. Just then he felt a soft touch through his blanket. "Mom?" he asked in a muffled voice.

"I'm here, honey."

Carter looked out from his blanket tent and, as another flash of lightning illuminated the room, saw his mother in her fuzzy green robe standing next to him. Another BOOM shook the house. "Noisy, isn't it?" said Mom. As she sat down on the edge of Carter's bed, the power came back on. With Mom there, and with the familiar light filling the room, Carter no longer felt afraid. "Did you remember that Jesus is right here with you, Carter?" asked Mom. "He was watching over you even before I came in. He controls the wind and rain, you know. We don't have to be afraid because He's with us."

Carter began to feel sleepy as he listened to his mother's comforting voice. Her hands closed around his, and he heard her saying, "Thank You, Jesus, for loving Carter and especially for being here with him during the storm." Outside, the storm rumbled farther away while rain dripped quietly from the roof. Through almost-closed eyes, Carter saw his mom turn the light off and tiptoe from his room.

"Thank You, Jesus," whispered Carter. "I'm so glad You're always here." He yawned, snuggled under his covers, and soon fell asleep.

–Phyllis I. Klomparens

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:15-16

"Look," said Adrian, pointing to an insect he and his sister Eva had caught out in the garden. "Maybe it's praying!" Sure enough, the bug's forelegs were folded together as if in prayer. "Let's see if we can find out what it is."

The kids searched online and found a picture of the bug they had caught. "It's a praying mantis," said Adrian.

"Does it really pray?" asked Eva.

Adrian laughed. "Of course not! Bugs don't pray. I wonder what we should feed it?" He scrolled down the page. "This says they eat other insects and like to eat their prey alive."

"Gross!" said Eva, wrinkling up her nose.

"It says here that if you put a small piece of meat on a string and move it in front of a praying mantis, he may think it's alive and eat it," said Adrian. "Let's try it!"

Adrian put a tiny piece of hamburger on the end of a string, and sure enough, the mantis lunged for it.

"So, did your new pet like the food you gave him?" asked Mom.

Adrian nodded. "The website we found said praying mantises are vicious little creatures. It said the female will even eat her husband if she gets hungry enough."

"You little hypocrite," said Mom, looking at the bug. "You look so faithful and devoted with your forelegs folded like that, but you're a pretender--you don't mean it at all."

Eva giggled. "That would be a good name for him." So Pretender he became.

Whenever Adrian looked at Pretender, he felt a bit funny inside. At dinnertime he folded his hands and said "Amen" after his parents, but he never cared to listen to what was being said. I'm just like that bug, he thought. I'm not really praying--I'm just pretending. Adrian knew Jesus loved him, and he pretended he loved Jesus too. But he had never asked Jesus to be his Savior.

As Adrian snuggled down into his blankets one night, God seemed to be whispering to him, Haven't you been a pretender long enough? Suddenly, Adrian tossed off the blankets and got up. I'm going to talk to Mom and Dad! he thought. I want to quit pretending and become a real Christian.

–Matilda H. Nordtvedt

Bible Reading: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 45:7; 1 Corinthians 10:10-12

"Hey, Amy! Don't forget to get the wastebasket from my room," said Greyson as he opened the door to go out.

Amy scowled at him. "I hate taking out the trash." She turned to her mother. "Greyson always gets the easy stuff to do while I have to tramp around the house collecting smelly old garbage!"

"You chose that job for this month," Mom reminded her. "You said you were tired of dusting and folding laundry and that Greyson always got the easy jobs--like emptying the trash." Amy muttered to herself as she left to start collecting wastebaskets.

A little later, the back door squeaked loudly as Greyson pushed it open and came back in.

"That squeaky door is driving me crazy!" Amy said crossly. "Quit going in and out, Greyson."

Her brother grinned and turned back toward the door. "I think I left something outside. I'll be back in a minute." He swung the door back and forth.

"Mom, make him stop!" Amy whined, covering her ears.

"Enough, Greyson," said Mom. "Quit teasing."

Just then Dad opened the squeaky door. "I guess it's about time for me to oil these hinges," he said. "They're complaining pretty loudly." He let the door squeak shut behind him as he walked in. "Remember the Bible verses we read for devotions last night--the ones about the Israelites after they left Egypt? They complained a lot--just like this screen door. It needs oil, and I think they needed to apply oil to their lives by remembering God was with them and promised to take care of them. Perhaps that would be what the Bible calls the oil of joy."

"Yeah. Some people around here need some of that oil too," said Greyson, giving his sister a grin.

Amy sighed. "I guess I have been pretty squeaky lately."

"Well, you can apply oil to that squeak by remembering the joy you have in Jesus," said Dad. "He saved us from sin so we could be filled with the joy of knowing Him for all eternity. We can experience that joy by remembering He loves us and is always with us--even when things don't go our way."

Amy straightened up. "Okay…sorry for complaining. Now, who has trash they'd like me to get rid of?"

–Maria I. Sellers