Keys for Kids
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A Sometimes Christian
When his mother called him into the kitchen, Steven reluctantly left his game. "What do you want?" he asked irritably. "Please take care of your books and sweep up the cookie crumbs you left on the floor," said Mom. "And don't eat any more cookies. I have just enough for the meeting at church." "Well, don't leave them out in the open if you don't want them eaten," grumbled Steven with a scowl. "Steven! That was rude!" exclaimed Mom. "I expect an apology." "Sorry," muttered Steven. He got the...
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While the Sun Shines
"Mom, just what is time?" asked Mitchell, setting his Bible down on the table. His sister Jen looked up from the book she was reading. "Is this a joke?" she asked. "You know what time is. It's . . ." She shrugged. "How can anybody define it? It's a . . . a measurement, like from one o'clock to two o'clock. Or how long it takes you to eat breakfast." "Well, how can time be redeemed?" Mitchell asked. "When we trust in Jesus, we say we're redeemed--or saved. But it says right here . . ."...
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Second Chance
"Look what Joshua did to my CD!" Nicole said angrily. "He's ruined it!" She turned toward her little brother, who sat at the table eating ice cream. "Don't you ever touch my CDs again!" "I'm sorry, Nicole," Joshua said sadly. "It just broked." "CDs don't just break!" Nicole argued. "You broke it. You were careless and now it's all scratched." She shook her finger at Joshua. "From now on, you leave my CDs alone!" she repeated as she went to her room to study. The next afternoon Mom joined...
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Sin Bugs
As Angela turned over a rock in the yard, she drew back. "Yuck! Look at all the icky bugs hiding under this rock, Mom!" she exclaimed. "They look like they're wearing armor.And they don't seem to like the light. I think they're looking for a dark place to hide." Mom and Angela watched the bugs scurry around. "Those are sow bugs--or pill bugs--and I think you're right," Mom agreed. "The leader of my Bible study group used these bugs as an illustration a few weeks ago, and here they are!"...
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A Lot Like Me
"For a Sunday school assignment, we're each sending an email letter to one of the missionary kids our age," said Cody with a sigh. "I started one to a kid named James, but everything I wrote is so boring! I've never written to a missionary before. What can I write about, Dad? What would a missionary kid find interesting?" Dad looked up from his newspaper. "What would you like to hear about if you were spending a few years in another country?" he asked. "Oh, I'd want to know how the baseball...
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Pepper and Soap
"What are you doing,Grandma?" asked Janae when she stopped to see her grandparents on the way home from school. "Oh, I'm getting things together for the object lesson I'm giving in Bible club tomorrow," replied Grandma. "Want to try it?" "Sure," agreed Janae. "Good! Then fill a cup with water," instructed Grandma. Janae got a cup and filled it. "Next, sprinkle this pepper all over the water, and then stick your finger in the cup," continued Grandma. "Oh-h-h!" exclaimed Janae after following...
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A Blank Piece of Paper
"Who will volunteer to sign this?" asked Miss Steele, showing her Sunday school class a sheet of paper. "What's it for?" asked one of the kids as several hands went up. "Well, when you sign it, you will be agreeing to do whatever I write on the paper," said Miss Steele. The hands promptly went back down. "It could be something like . . . mow my lawn, give me your allowance next week, come to a party, or maybe invite five people to Sunday school," continued Miss Steele. "It might be something...
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Handle with Care
CRASH! The sound of shattering glass echoed through the house. Both Randy and his mother ran into the kitchen. "Oh, Jennifer! My new vase!" Mom exclaimed when they saw the little girl looking in dismay at pieces of a glass vase scattered all over the floor. "I didn't mean to drop it," Jennifer sobbed. "It slided right out of my hands." Mom nodded. "I see that," she said. "Right now I want you to go wait in your room before you get cut on this glass. I'll be there to talk to you in a minute,...
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Just Like Dorcas
"What are you making, Mom?" Jody asked as she watched her mother's knitting needles move in and out. "I'm making a baby sweater for one of the ladies at church," answered Mom. "Mrs. Pauley is having a baby next month." "How come you do so many things like that for other people?" Jody asked. "It seems like you're always knitting or baking for somebody." "I enjoy making things and giving them away," said Mom with a smile. "I think it's kind of like when you make something special at school and...
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Too Much Salt
Brett looked up from his plate as he and his family were eating supper. "You know what?" he asked, reaching for the salt shaker. "Today I remembered what Pastor Hughes said about witnessing and being the salt of the earth, and I decided to witness to Keith. He's always doing really bad stuff. Like . . . he swears sometimes, and he's mean to the little kids, and today I saw him cheat. So I told him he was a sinner headed straight for hell, and that he should repent." "Whoa! Sounds like you...
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A Memorial Rock
The Johnson family stood looking at the huge oak tree lying across their front yard. During the night, a fierce storm had blown it down. "Wow!" exclaimed Natalie. "If that tree had fallen just a little farther this way, it would have hit the house!" Dad nodded. "God surely takes good care of us," he said, placing his hand on Natalie's shoulder. Mark eyed the short distance from the fallen tree to the house. "Yeah," he said in awe. "Our house isn't damaged at all." "I hope I never forget all...
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Not Forgotten
"How was school?" Ryan's foster mother asked cheerfully as he shuffled in. "Fine," answered Ryan, avoiding her gaze. He hurried to his room and shut the door before throwing himself on the bed. Ryan was dreadingMother's Day. His class was doing a project to honor mothers, and it embarrassed him. Hot shame washed over him as he recalled how some of the kids had made unkind remarks about his family. Hearing a knock on his door, Ryan sat up quickly. "Come in," he called. Mr. Grady, his foster...
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Roots
As Jared and Simon helped their dad dig out stumps in an area behind their house, Jared leaned on his shovel. "Is this stump ready to pull yet?" he asked, looking at the one he was digging around. Dad came over and checked it. "Not quite ready," he said. "Keep digging." "I've got a root ready for you to chop, Dad!" called Simon. Dad grabbed the ax and went to Simon's stump. Chips flew as he chopped the root. "This one looks ready to pull," said Dad. He hooked a chain from the truck to the...
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Invitation Needed
Wendy eagerly answered the door as her friends began to arrive for the slumber party. "Take your stuff to the family room," she told the girls, "and help yourself to the munchies. When everybody's here, we'll play some games." Soon the family room was filled with girls in pajamas. Wendy glanced at all the sleeping bags piled in the corner. "I wonder why Julie isn't here," she said. "I'm sure she was planning to come. I'm going to call and see if she's sick." Wendy went to the phone and...
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Guarded Words
Karen walked out to the backyard where her grandmother was pruning a rosebush. "Hi, honey," Grandma greeted her. Seeing Karen's unhappy face, she asked, "What seems to be the trouble?" "Oh, Gram!" Karen exclaimed. "It's Morgan! I thought we were best friends, but she hardly even speaks to me lately!" "Really?" asked Grandma. "And what caused that?" "Well . . . Janie said Morgan's jacket looked dumb," replied Karen, "and I said I thought so, too. We were just teasing!" Karen sighed. "We all...
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The Paper Route
"It's just not fair," stormed Cole as he and Pete came into the kitchen after school. "I'm your own brother!" Mom looked up. "What are you two arguing about?" she asked. "Pete asked another kid to do his paper route for him while he's at church camp," Cole told her. "He could have asked me. He knows I could use the money. He's just being . . ." "Hey! I asked you to help me not long ago," broke in Pete. "I told you to put the papers on the porches in case it rained. But you were in such a...
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Just a Baby
When little Adam let out a loud scream, Mom hurried to the backyard to see what happened. "I just took this piece of glass away from him," explained Tami, holding out a glittering piece of broken glass. "Adam found it on the ground and was about to put it in his mouth when I stopped him. He didn't like that." Mom picked up the little boy. "Thanks for watching him so carefully, Tami," she said. "You probably saved him from getting a bad cut." Tami shrugged. "Yeah, but Adam sure didn't...
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The Right Diet
As Micah opened the back door, he saw that his mother was taking chocolate chip cookies from the oven. "Yummy!" exclaimed Sammy, Micah's little brother. "Those smell so good! Can we have some?" Mom smiled. "You can each have a glass of milk and two cookies for a snack," she said. Sammy got his milk and eagerly helped himself to two cookies, but Micah shook his head. "I'm getting ready to run an important track race, so I need to have healthy snacks now," he declared. "Can I have a banana?"...
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They’re People,Too
"It's not fair!" Shelly continued as she and her mother walked into the supermarket. She'd been complaining about a teacher almost nonstop since Mom picked her up after school. "It's just not fair! When Mr. Benson said we could have free time to study and I opened my history book, my pencil fell off my desk. I couldn't reach it from where I was sitting, so I stood up to get it, and he yelled at me! He didn't ask why I was standing up or anything--just told me to write 'I will stay in my...
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The Most Dangerous Animal
"Wow! Look at that bear yawn!" exclaimed Cameron on their visit to the local zoo. "See all those teeth? I bet he could really hurt someone with them!" Dad smiled. "I'm sure he could," he agreed. "He's got sharp claws, too." A little later, Cameron pointed to a large tiger. "Imagine that guy sneaking up on you in the jungle!" he exclaimed as the tiger stared at them. His sister Olivia shivered. "I'd rather not," she said. On the way home, Cameron thought about the fierce animals they had...
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On the Right Track
Passenger trains no longer came through the little town of Judson, but for the city's anniversary celebration, a train was running on the old tracks once again. "Look, Dad!" exclaimed John, pointing to a sign. "Free Rides!" Dad read aloud. "Climb aboard and enjoy an old-fashioned train ride to Rock Island." So John and Dad got on the train. After what seemed a long time, John asked, "Shouldn't we be going by now?" Dad looked around. "Maybe they're waiting for more people," he suggested. Just...
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First Aid Course
Jenna glanced out the window just as elderly Mrs. Carlson tripped over the curb and fell to the ground. I wish Mom were home, thought Jenna as she jumped up and ran out to see if her neighbor was hurt. Mrs. Carlson was trying to get up when Jenna reached her, but she obviously was in great pain. "It's my back," gasped Mrs. Carlson. "I hope I didn't break it." "Don't move," cautioned Jenna. "You might hurt yourself worse. I'll go and call 911." Mrs. Carlson nodded, and Jenna ran back into the...
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The Vital Signs
Charlie pushed open the door that had a sign with Dr. David Brown--the name of his father--printed on it. As he entered the waiting room, the office nurse smiled at him. "Hi, Charlie," she said. "Your dad is almost done for the day. He'll be with you in a few minutes." Soon Charlie and his father were in the car, headed for home. "Dad, I heard on the radio that the president was having his annual checkup today," said Charlie. "When people come in for a one of those, they usually feel okay,...
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Pedal Boats and People
"All together now!" Amanda called out. She and Grandpa sat in the back of a pedal boat; her sister Jessica and Grandma sat in the front. They started out all pedaling together. They were having a good time, but when Jessica got tired, she lifted her feet. For a while, Grandma kept pedaling, but then she stopped, too. "I need to give my knees a rest," said Grandpa a few minutes later. He stretched his legs out on the side of the boat, leaving Amanda to pedal alone. "This is too hard since you...
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A Hurt Finger
Troy struggled to unscrew the lid of a small bottle of paint he needed to use on a model airplane he'd gotten for his birthday. His face turned red as he tried with all his might to turn the lid. Finally, he took the bottle out to the garage, picked up one of Dad's screwdrivers, and tried to pry the lid off. The screwdriver slipped and jabbed his finger. "Ouch!" Troy cried as he watched a trickle of blood run from the cut. He put the bottle down and went into the house for a bandage. When...
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Instant Everything
"I feel like cooking something," said Kris. "Can I fix supper? It'll be fun." "Sure," said Mom, "but Dad has a business dinner tonight, so it will just be you and Doug and me." "Let's have TV dinners then, okay?" asked Kris. "But can I make some extra potatoes? We have a box of instant mashed potato flakes, don't we? I know how to do them. And can I fix instant pudding for dessert? With whipped topping?" "If you like," agreed Mom. "I've already made a salad--it's in the refrigerator. We...
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The Dead Bee
Andy trudged home, a grim look on his face. He knew his mother would take one look at his clothes and know he had been in another fight. And Dad would . . . well, Andy didn't know what Dad would do. But I don't care! thought Andy. Ever since Jase lied and got me in trouble, I can't stand that guy! As Andy passed an empty lot, he glanced toward an old tree stump where a swarm of bees had made a hive. There were none buzzing around, and he noticed a few lying on the ground. "Dead bees! I guess...
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Feather Spreaders
Elijah looked up when his grandma spoke. "Why so glum, buddy?" she asked. "No one likes me," replied Elijah with a sigh. "The kids call me big mouth." "And why is that?" asked Grandma. "I . . . I said something about a guy on my soccer team, and he found out," said Elijah. "And then . . . well, I told a secret after I promised Patrick I wouldn't." "Hm-m-m," murmured Grandma, taking a book of Chinese folk tales from a shelf. She settled into a chair near Elijah. "Maybe this story will help...
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Two Tents
"I wish my dad liked camping like your dad does," Sonya complained to her friend Bethany. Bethany looked at the beautiful furnishings in Sonya's home. "Well, I wish we had as many nice things as you do," she said, "but we don't have very much money." The girls went on to compare and complain about their circumstances. "I think you girls need something useful to do," said Sonya's mother, who was tired of their complaints. "I need to make some visits for the church welcoming committee. How...
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Toby’s Toe
Toby stretched, yawned, and turned off the alarm. For several minutes he argued with himself. One voice in his thoughts said, Get up. It's time for Sunday school. Another voice said, Why not skip it? Your folks don't go. Sleep a little longer. In the end, the wrong voice won. "I'll never be missed," Toby mumbled as he pulled the blanket over his head. "Those guys don't care if I come or not." At recess the next day, Toby tripped over a stump and broke a toe. "Oh-h-h!" he moaned as the doctor...
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What Really Counts
Phil and his friends were stunned. One of their classmates had been killed in a car accident. "We feel sad this morning," said Miss Kendall, their teacher. "Sometimes it makes us feel better to remember good and happy things about a person who has died. Would anyone like to share something special about Jonathan?" So several students mentioned things they liked about their friend. Amelia spoke first. "Jonathan played his horn really good," she said. "He was smart," offered Jason. "He could...
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No Giving Up
"Ilove plums! Plum season is usually the best time of the year," declared Tricia, looking at the wild plum trees across from their home. "We usually get so many, but this year they've been shriveling up and dropping off all summer. They should be almost ripe by now, but they look like prunes." "Dad says that's because it's been so cold and dry," replied her sister Jill. The girls walked across the street to check the trees again. Jill picked up a plum. "This one's sort of okay-looking," she...
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Noah’s Prayer
Noah wore a big smile as he and Kyle walked home together. Kyle looked at his little brother. "What are you so happy about?" asked Kyle. Noah's grin grew even broader. "It worked!" he said. "Pastor Dunn said we should pray for our enemies, so I've been praying for Derek ever since he knocked me off the swing last week." "Oh . . . yeah . . . well, that's nice," said Kyle. "Derek's always mean--nobody likes him," added Noah. "Anyway, I've been praying, and today Derek had to go to the hospital...
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The Honor Roll
Amy curled up in her favorite chair and began to read, but she soon slammed the book shut. This is a bad book, she thought. The language is terrible! Amy frowned as she looked at the cover. But I have to read it for my class! she remembered. Or do I? I'm going to ask Mrs. Rogers if I can read a different one. She checked with her mother, and with Mom's approval, Amy talked to her teacher the next day. But Mrs. Rogers refused to change the assignment. "This book tells about life as it is,"...
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Moving Mountains
Ben sat on the steps, his chin cupped in his hand, and stared at a mound of dirt in the middle of the yard. "Hey, there, Ben. What's wrong?" asked Grandpa, coming around the corner of the house. He sat down next to Ben. "I must not have any faith at all," replied Ben with a sigh. Grandpa looked surprised. "Why do you think that?" he asked. "At Bible school, my teacher read a verse that says if you have just a little faith, you can tell a mountain to move from one place to another, and it...
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Go Down Deep
Josh sprawled on his bed and flipped through a pile of photographs. When his dad looked in, Josh glanced up. "Hey, Dad! I think I'll be a deep sea diver someday," Josh announced. "Look at these pictures Uncle Wayne brought over this afternoon. He took them when he went deep sea diving in Florida." Dad peered over Josh's shoulder. "What unusual plants and animals!" Dad exclaimed. "And what vivid colors!" His eyes twinkled. "Maybe I should become a deep sea diver, too. It would be great to...
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The Wrong Shoes
"Hi, Kait! Come in!" exclaimed Lori when Kaitlin came to work on a school project and then spend the night. "Look, Mom!" Lori pointed to her friend's feet. "Kait's new shoes are exactly like mine! Cool!" The girls had a good time working on their project, sharing snacks, and trading jokes. "This was fun," said Lori when they finally finished their work. The next morning, the girls sleepily dressed and ate their cereal. Then they had to hurry to catch the school bus. "Can I stop at Kait's...
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A Look at the Heart
"Wow, Mom! I never knew all this stuff before!" exclaimed Luke as he and his friend Jerome sat on the floor, looking through some books. "What stuff?" asked his sister Paige, who was doing her homework. "Jerome and I have to find facts about the heart and then report to the class, so we're working on it," Luke replied. "It's amazing how our bodies are made!" Mom nodded. "What did you learn?" she asked. "Well, it says here that if all our blood vessels were laid end to end, even a kid's would...
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Cloudy Skies
Scott stared out the airplane window. He wished he could be excited about his first plane ride, but his thoughts were swirling like the thick clouds below. Why did God let Mom and Dad be in that accident? he wondered. I like going to Grandma and Grandpa's house to stay a while, but not when it's because Mom and Dad are in the hospital. He turned from the window when the flight attendant arrived and served the beverages they had requested. "Cheer up, Scott," encouraged his older brother...
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Aunt Sue’s Gift
Kevin waved the brown package excitedly. "Look what came for me in the mail!" he exclaimed. "I think it's a birthday present from Aunt Sue!" He eagerly ripped the paper off the package. Taking out a book, he frowned. "It's a book of missionary stories," he said unhappily. He tossed it on the table. "Oh, those should be interesting," said Mom, picking it up. "I've heard of some of the people mentioned here on the back. They have unusual stories." Kevin shrugged. "I like mysteries or sports...
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Big or Small
"Have you finished cleaning your room already?" asked Mom as Ella joined her in the front yard. Ella nodded but avoided her mother's eyes. She had not cleaned her room at all, but she intended to get it done before Mom checked later. Ella waved at a neighbor girl. "You know, Mom," she said, "it seems like Nina is always doing something wrong. She cheats sometimes when we play games, and she tells the biggest lies! I've heard her swear, too." "That's too bad," replied Mom, "but I assume you...
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Real Winners
Counsellor Daniel stood in front of a large group of wiggly campers. "Have you boys had a good time at camp this week?" he hollered. "Yes!" the campers yelled back. Ethan's voice was a little louder than the others. This was his first time at church camp and he'd had a blast. "Today is our last day of competitions," Counselor Daniel continued, "and as you know, those of you with gold stars in any category will receive a special award at tonight's service when your parents are here. I've...
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The Cat and the Hamster
As Ashley carried the cat out of her bedroom, she met her mother in the hall. Mom smiled. "I see you're up," she said. "Do you feel better?" "Not much," said Ashley, "but Snowball jumped on top of Ziggy's cage." Ashley pointed behind her. "And look at my silly hamster. He's climbing the cage like he wants to get out. Ziggy doesn't even know there's a cat out here waiting to catch him." Mom nodded. "He obviously doesn't always know what's best for him," she said. "I'll put Snowball out, and...
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The Polishing Process
Jeremy sighed as he perched on the arm of his dad's chair. "I'm tired of trying to be nice to Logan, Dad. He's always bugging me," grumbled Jeremy just as Blake, his younger brother, dashed into the room. "Today in Sunday school, Logan kept poking my arm. Why can't he grow up? He . . ." "Dad! Can we go and look at my rocks now?" asked Blake, interrupting his brother. "It's been a whole week since I put them in my rock tumbler!" "It takes way longer than that to polish stones," Jeremy...
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Taxes! Taxes!
With her mother's permission, Ginger stopped at a store after school and used money she had left from her allowance to buy a few things she wanted. She chose a pen, some sticky notes, and a puzzle book. When she went to pay for the items, she was surprised at how much she owed. "Oh! That's more than I figured," she said. "I didn't think they added up to that much money." "Did you remember to add the sales tax?" asked the clerk. "I forgot all about it!" exclaimed Ginger. "I'll have to put...
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The Safety Rope
Anna's heart pounded as she stood looking down at her brother. He looked very small from her perch among the tree tops. "You can do it!" he called up to her. "Easy for you to say, Casey," Anna retorted. "You're not standing on a log thirty feet in the air!" It was her first time on the high ropes course at her church retreat, and she was supposed to walk across the log as if it were a balance beam. Anna looked at her father down below. "Are you sure the rope will catch me if I fall?" she...
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Do It Now
Juan picked up something from the closet floor and waved it at his friend Eric. "Remember the game piece we lost when we played Spider last time you were here?" Juan asked. Eric nodded and looked at the object. "Hey! You found it!" he exclaimed. "Yep. It was right there," replied Juan, pointing to the closet floor. Eric looked where Juan indicated. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "It's a wonder you ever found it in there! What a mess! It's way worse than my closet--and my mom thinks it's bad! I can...
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When Parents Say No
"Are your mom and dad going to let you go to Jenny's all-night party?" Madison's friend Leslie asked as the girls walked home. "No, and I'm not even sure why not," said Madison. "I forgot about it, so when Dad dropped me off this morning, Iasked him if I could go. He just said they didn't want me to. I was late, and there wasn't time to talk any more about it." "My parents said no at first, too," replied Leslie, "but I told them that was unfair and that they never trust me! I kept at 'em,...
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’Fess Up
David gasped and choked. He turned so Alex couldn't see his face. David knew he shouldn't be smoking, but Alex had dared him to try it, and he didn't want Alex to laugh at him. "How'd ya like it?" Alex spoke to David's back. "Great," David lied, glancing at his watch. "Hey--I gotta run or I'm gonna be in trouble. See you tomorrow." Without waiting for a reply, he walked quickly out of the alley and into the sunlight. Guilt tugged at his heart as he hurried toward home. When David entered the...
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Firmly Staked
"We've got work to do before we go fishing," said Dad as he and Robb reached their camp site, "so let's get the tent up." "All right! That will be fun!" exclaimed Robb. He eagerly helped his father stretch out the tent and set it up. Then he pounded the stakes into the ground on one side while Dad worked on the other side. Soon they were ready to get out their poles and catch some fish. Fishing was good, and they hardly noticed that it was getting cloudy. They were surprised when a light...
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Just a Sub
Hannah walked into the house with a big grin on her face. "Mom," she called out, "we had the best time in school today!" "What did you do that was so much fun?" asked Mom with a smile. "Oh, we had a substitute teacher today. It was so funny!" Hannah laughed. "Some of the kids switched seats, so all day long the sub was calling them the wrong names. Pete and Joel told her our teacher always lets us out for recess early. She believed them, so we got out five minutes before everyone else!" Mom...
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A Co-pa-ce-tic Day
"Hello, Austin," said Grandpa Thompson. "Is everything copacetic with my grandson today?" "Co . . . pa . . . cetic? What does that mean, Grandpa?" asked Austin, but even as he asked, he was sure his grandfather wouldn't tell him. He'd probably say to look it up in the dictionary. Just like expected, Grandpa smiled and said, "Look it up. You know that's what dictionaries are for!" So Austin got out a big dictionary and quickly looked up the word. "Copacetic," he murmured softly. "Here it is,...
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Like a Donkey
"Are you as smart as a donkey?" asked Mr. Jim, the leader of the children's church service. The kids laughed, and several announced that they were much smarter than any donkey. Mr. Jim smiled. "That's great," he continued. "Then I'm sure you can serve Jesus. The donkey in today's lesson did." (See today's Scripture reading.) "I don't get it!" exclaimed Trevor. "Jesus rode on the donkey's back, didn't He? You mean we're supposed to give people rides on our backs?" Trevor liked to ask...
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Alive Again
"I like Easter Sunday," said Rosanne as the family finished dinner. "Easter lilies are so pretty, and I like to hear the account of when Jesus arose." "I like Easter dinner!" her brother Caleb said with a grin. "Everything is so yummy." But then he frowned as he looked at his father. "My Sunday school lesson was about how we'll be raised from the dead like Jesus was," said Caleb. "Then on the way home, we heard on that news report about a fire at one of the restaurants downtown. It said two...
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Something Beautiful
I wonder if Mom will ever be well again, thought Maria as she got out of the car and walked with her aunt and uncle toward the church. Maria had been sent to stay with them while Dad took Mom to a special doctor in a distant city. Everybody says God knows best, but I sure can't see how Mom's illness is best for anybody! Maria grabbed her aunt's hand for comfort. "Look at that window, Maria," said Aunt Laura, pointing to a stained glass window. "I never cease to marvel at the skill of the man...
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Can Right Be Wrong?
Karl burst into the room. "Mom, guess what happened at Bible Club!" he exclaimed. "Marc accepted Jesus as his Savior!" "That's wonderful!" responded Mom. "His parents aren't Christians," said Karl solemnly. "Marc's dad told him he should forget all about God." "Let's ask the Lord to help Marc be a testimony to his parents," Mom replied. Karl nodded. "I will," he promised, "and I'll help Marc any way I can." A few weeks later, Karl was quite annoyed at his friend. "I asked Marc to go with me...
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The Way to Give
"Do you think Barney will be okay?" Ryan asked his Mom anxiously. "I think so, but we'll just have to wait and see," Mom replied. Ryan's dog had broken his leg, and the veterinarian was setting it in a cast. "I'll help pay for the vet bill," offered Ryan. "You can use all the money I've saved in my piggy bank." Mom smiled. "Thank you, Son. You can contribute a little if you want to, but we'll take care of most of the bill," she said. "I appreciate your willing heart, though." Mom was...
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Wilted Buds
"My whole life is ruined!" Sara said as she went out to the back patio. where her father was watering plants. "Everything is going so-o-o wrong. I failed the test that I studied so hard for, and my best friend is mad at me." Sara frowned. "I don't even think God loves me!" "Oh, honey, you know He loves you very much," said Dad as he began to water a large plant. Sara shrugged. "Why are you watering that one?" she asked. "It's going to die soon, isn't it? Look at the buds--they look all...
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Shining Like the Moon
"There! My homework's done," said Jasmine, closing her math book. "You finished with yours, Em?" Emily nodded. "Yep," she said. "Let's go outside--it's so nice out tonight." After getting permission from Mom, the girls went out to the porch. Twinkling stars in the sky glistened like distant diamonds. The full moon seemed to shine brighter than usual. As Emily gazed at it, she thought about the things she wanted to do and to have some day. After a few minutes, she turned to her sister. "What...
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Ragamuffin (Cont’d.)
Rick and Brittany were relieved when Mom and Dad said they could keep the puppy they had found. Rick even thought Ragamuffin was a good name, but Brittany refused to call him that. "Let's name him Muffin," she suggested. "Muffins are good!" With a shrug, Rick agreed. The kids enjoyed playing with Muffin. They taught him tricks, and took him on walks. "Good dog!" exclaimed Brittany when Muffin fetched a stick she threw. "Now if only you'd learn not to track mud into the house or knock things...
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Ragamuffin
"C'mon, Brittany," said Rick. "We need to take out the trash for Dad." "Okay," said Brittany, and together they hauled empty boxes and wastepaper out to the big bin behind their father's store. Rick lifted the trash bin cover, but he slammed it back down quickly. "Brittany, there's something in there," he gasped. "I saw it move!" Brittany laughed. "Yeah, right," she said. "You're just trying to scare me." "I'm not! I'm telling the truth," insisted Rick. He pulled up the lid again and poked...
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Two Radios
"This radio sure has a lot of stations, Dad," said Nate as he turned the dial of the radio. Snippets of a lot of different people talking on various radio stations filtered into the room. "How do people get inside radios?" asked Nate's little brother, Cody. "People aren't actually inside the radio!" replied Nate. "It just picks up sound waves from all over. It's like . . ." He paused. "You explain it, Dad." Dad smiled. "I don't really understand much about it myself," he said, "but we're...
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Two Cameras
"Look, Dad." Nate held out the camera his mother had brought home from a neighbor's garage sale. He pointed to some words on the front of the camera. "This says 'Automatic Focus.' What does that mean?" "It means that a little mechanism at the front of this camera automatically opens or closes the shutter to let in just the right amount of light," Dad explained. "No matter how close or how far you are from your subject, you won't have to adjust anything to make each picture come out clearly."...
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Fleas and Friendships
"The new guy across the street is cool!" Jason told his mother. "His name is Tyler, and he's got a couple of bird dogs and some hamsters." "Invite him over some time--I'd like to meet him, too," said Mom. But then she frowned. "I've noticed that Seth is there a lot," she added. "He's often in trouble at school, isn't he? I know his reputation isn't very good. Is Tyler like Seth?" "Oh, Mom!" Jason sighed. "Tyler is okay. He even offered to take care of Midget while we're gone next week. That...
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Look to the Ants
"What's the matter, Sis? Ants in your pants?" Jon asked with a big grin. At their campsite, Ann had stepped in the middle of an ant hill and was frantically brushing the little creatures off. "It's not funny, Jon," Ann said as her mother helped her finish brushing the insects away. Soon Ann and her mother went into the trailer, but Jon and Dad continued to watch the ants. "An ant nest is like a little city where hundreds--and even thousands--of ants live," observed Dad. "Look! Some of them...
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The Best Part
Ellen rubbed her stomach as she eyed the cake her mother had just frosted. "Christy and I sure are hungry!" said Ellen. Her friend Christy had come to spend the night, and the girls were looking for an after-school snack. Mom laughed. "Help yourself," she invited. As the girls began to eat their cake, Ellen looked at Christy in surprise. "Christy, are you just going to eat the frosting?" asked Ellen. "The cake is yummy--I think it's the best part! It's a special cake Mom makes with nuts and...
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Polish the Inside
"Mom!" yelled Naomi. "Justin won't get out of the bathroom!" She pounded her fists on the door. "He spends more time primping than I do!" After taking one last look at his hair in the mirror, Justin opened the door. Naomi stood there, waiting. He scowled, shoved her backwards, and called her a bad name under his breath. He hurried outside, avoiding Mom, and slammed the door. Justin saw a silver four-wheel drive truck in the driveway next door. Their neighbor Trent, a college student, was...
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Personal Cheerleader
"Guess what happened today," said Ben, letting the door slam behind him. "Someone freed the frogs in science lab again?" asked Mom as she pulled a pan of cookies from the oven. Ben laughed. "Nope," he said. "Matt got his own personal cheerleader." "A personal cheerleader?" asked Mom. "Now you've got my attention." "It was an experiment. Mrs. Crane wanted us to see how it would change a person's actions if he had someone cheering for him all the time," explained Ben as he sat down at the...
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On Thin Ice
"I don't see why I can't go--it's not like I'd gamble or spend any money there," said Tara. "I'll just watch. Jodi is willing to come with me to church tomorrow if I go with her this afternoon, so I think I should." Mom shook her head. "I'm not sure kids your age are even allowed in casinos. In any case, I don't want you going there," she said. "But, Mom!" protested Tara. "If it will get Julia to come . . ." "I said no, Tara," Mom stated firmly. With an angry frown, Tara marched off to her...
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Jack’s Bug Collection (Cont’d.)
"Did you seeNick at school today, Jack?" Allie asked one evening. Jack grinned at his little sister. "Yes," he said, "and I didn't chew him up, either. I remembered that Dad told me not to criticize Nick and to only say positive things to him. So I asked him if he'd like to work with me during study time." "Good for you!" exclaimed Dad. "He was so surprised," continued Jack. "We got all of our homework done, and I think he really liked it that I helped him." "That was very nice of you, Jack....
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Jack’s Bug Collection
"Thank you for our food and for Mom and Dad who work so hard," Jack prayed aloud at dinner one night. "And please, God, help Nick do better at school." He finished his prayer and said amen. Mom passed the spaghetti to Jack. "I'm glad you prayed for Nick. How is he doing?" she asked. "About the same," Jack replied. He laughed. "He's so weird, and nobody likes him." Jack shook his head and went on to criticize Nick and list some of his faults. "And you know what else?" he asked. "We're...
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Grandfather’s Will
Mr. Dutten, a lawyer, opened a folder and cleared his throat. "The last will and testament of Andrew Philip Blackburn," he read. "I, Andrew Philip Blackburn, being of sound mind . . ." What a strange thing for Grandpa to say, Andrea thought. She glanced around the lawyer's office. She missed her grandfather so much! Everyone looked very solemn, and even the children were quiet. "To each of my grandchildren, I leave $5,000 to be used toward their education," read the lawyer, and Andrea's eyes...
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Numbed?
Owen sighed and poked at his half-eaten piece of pie. "Nothing tastes good," he told his mother. "I wish my tongue would quit feeling so funny." Owen had been to the dentist earlier that day, and one side of his mouth had been numbed so it wouldn't hurt when the dentist drilled his tooth. Mom chuckled. "Give it a little more time," she advised. "There are lots of taste buds on your tongue, and when the dentist numbed your mouth, the shot numbed those taste buds, too. Why don't you save the...
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Under His Wings
Kara jumped off the school bus and sprinted through the rain to the front door of her house. But as soon as she opened the door, she wished she could get back on the bus. Angry voices filled the air. Kara clenched her jaw at the sound of her dad and mom fighting again. After dropping her backpack in the hallway, Kara ran back out the door. They're yelling even louder than usual, she thought. Why do they always fight? I don't want to hear them! To get away from the angry words, Kara ran...
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Different but Needed
Amber flopped down onto the sofa. She sighed as her mind replayed the events of the last hour. "Hi, Mom," she said as her mother came into the room. "Hi, honey," replied Mom. "How did it go at youth group today?" "Awful," mumbled Amber. "We're going to do a play--a short musical--for part of the special Easter program. Mrs. Kroll is directing it." "Sounds good," said Mom, "but you don't look very happy about it." "Oh, Mom! I got assigned to moving props around and sweeping the stage--stuff...
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Idol Worship
"You shall have no other gods before me. You shall have no other gods before me," Kristen murmured repeatedly as the family drove home from church. Kristen's brother Adam frowned. "What are you muttering about?" he asked. "Our class is going to learn the Ten Commandments," replied Kristen, "so I'm learning the first one for next Sunday." She frowned. "We're supposed to think about what it means, too," she added. "My teacher says people often worship false gods, even in America, but I never...
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Short Stuff
When Chad's mother stepped into the kitchen, she knew something was wrong. His coat was on the floor, his books were scattered across the table, and he sat with his head in his hands. "What's the matter, honey?" Mom asked. Chad looked up. "Oh, Mom, I can't be on the basketball team," he said sadly. "I'm just too short. All the guys are taller than me, and they call me Short Stuff. Even most of the girls are taller than I am." Chad sighed. "Who wants to hang out with a guy who looks like a...
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It Takes Practice
Abe groaned as he picked himself up from the snow. He was learning to ski, and his feet were in great big boots that were locked onto two long sticks of fiberglass. He had saved his money and begged to go along with his big brother. "Sure, you can come if it's okay with Mom and Dad," Max had said with a smile, "but I'm warning you--it isn't as easy as it looks." It wasn't long until Abe found out that Max was right. "I'll never learn how to ski!" Abe exclaimed in disgust. "I just fell for...
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Jana’s Passport
"I hope I didn't forget anything," Jana said as they drove to the airport. She and her brother Jed were going to spend the summer in England with their older sister and her husband who lived on a military base in that country. "Well, if you forgot something, now is the time to remember--before we get too far from home," Dad replied. "I saw you put the tickets and passports in your purse, Jana," said Mom. "You haven't taken them out at all, have you?" "Nope. They're right here." Jana patted...
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The Bride (Cont’d.)
"Oh, Lisa!" gasped Tina as she entered the room she shared with her older sister. "Your wedding dress is so-o-o beautiful! You look like a princess!" Lisa laughed. "Thank you, dear sister," she said, "but I was hoping to look like a bride." Tina giggled. "Try on the veil, too," she urged. "I want to see it." As Lisa placed the veil on her dark hair, Tina sighed wistfully. "I'd love to wear a dress like that and march down the church aisle." Lisa laughed. "Whoa, Tina! You're only thirteen,"...
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The Bride
One evening not long before her marriage was to take place, Lisa looked up from her desk and smiled at her younger sister Tina. "I thought I'd read my Sunday school lesson and forget all about weddings for a few minutes," said Lisa, "but guess what the lesson is about?" "What?" asked Tina, who was sprawled on her bed. She was almost as excited about the wedding plans as her sister was. "It's about Jesus and the Church. The Bible refers to believers as God's Church and also as the Bride of...
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The Driver
"Watch it!" gasped Uncle Sid. "Slow down, Abby!" In the back seat, Zach turned to Jill and grinned. When Aunt Sue asked Uncle Sid to get something from the grocery store, he offered to let Abby drive them there. She'd had a driver's license only a week, and as she drove, Uncle Sid instructed her almost non-stop. "There's a yield sign up ahead. It's a little hard to see," cautioned Uncle Sid. He paused only a moment. "I slow down when I pass this fire station . . . oh, and two lights down...
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Theo’s Science Lesson
Wow! thought Theo after reading a few pages of his science homework. This sure doesn't sound like what the Bible says. He decided to ask his dad about it. "Dad, my science book doesn't teach creation like the Bible does," said Theo when he found his dad working on the car in the garage. "According to my book, scientists believe the first particle of dust or . . . whatever . . . just happened to come into existence. They say people and everything else evolved from that." "Well, Son, most...
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Busy Signal
"I wonder why Ethan hasn't come--or called," said Jake as he looked at the model plane he was putting together. "Ethan was supposed to help me finish my plane this morning." "Maybe his mom or dad needed him to help at home," said Mom. "Maybe," Jake replied, "but Ethan said he'd call if he couldn't come. It's almost noon, and he still hasn't shown up or called." "Well, why don't you see if he can come this afternoon instead?" suggested Mom. "Maybe that will work out better." "Okay. I'll see,"...
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Foolish Choices
"Hey, there, Kurt," Uncle Ed called. "Come have a ride in my new car." "Okay!" agreed Kurt. "I've never ridden in a sports car like this before." He climbed into the car and reached for the seat belt. Uncle Ed laughed. "No need to fasten those things," he said. "We're just going a little way." Kurt buckled up anyway. "In school they taught us that seat belts save lives. And we learned that a whole lot of accidents happen close to home." Uncle Ed pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "I suppose...
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The Math Test
As Becky nibbled half heartedly at her breakfast, she thought about the big math test she would take later that day. She had studied hard, but she still felt nervous about it. Tests always made her nervous. "Not hungry this morning, honey?" asked Mom when she noticed Becky's nearly full cereal bowl. "I keep thinking about that awful math test," Becky replied with a sigh. "But you seemed to know how to solve all the problems when you were studying last night," said Mom. "Yes, but it's...
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Old Mossback
We gotta be the first ones into Grasswater Cove so we can get Old Mossback, Isaac thought as he snuggled down into his bed, almost too excited to sleep. He could hardly wait to go on the early morning fishing trip he and Dad had planned. The next thing Isaac knew, a hand was tapping him. "Isaac, wake up!" Dad whispered. "Time to go after Old Mossback." Isaac jumped out of bed, dressed quickly, and soon they were on their way in the pickup truck. In his mind, Isaac could see Grasswater Cove....
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No Looking Back
"What are you doing, Mr. Ward?" Scott asked when he saw his neighbor--who was also his Sunday school teacher--getting out some tools. "I'm going to use my garden tiller to get rid of some weeds," said Mr. Ward. "Do you want to help?" "Sure," responded Scott. Mr. Ward started the tiller and showed Scott how it worked. "Start here, and keep your eyes on the space between the plants. Walk straight down the row," said Mr. Ward, pointing to the other end of the garden. "When you come back this...
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View from the Top
Bridget and Ava were huffing and puffing when they finally reached the top of a steep, rocky hill. "Wow! You can see a long way from up here!" exclaimed Bridget. She grinned at her cousin. Then she pointed toward the valley below. "Look at Brett," she said. "He's got the cows almost to the corral." Looking down, the girls watched Ava's brother herd the cattle toward the gate. Suddenly Ava gasped. "Coco got out!" she exclaimed, pointing to a dog running toward the animals. "I don't think...
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A Promise Is a Promise
Julie skipped all the way home. Baking chocolate chip cookies for Tonya's sleepover tomorrow night will be fun, she thought. She pictured the girls munching cookies at midnight as they painted their toenails. "Mom!" Julie hollered, slamming the screen door. Her voice echoed, but Mom didn't answer. That's when Julie spotted a note on the table. "Grandma came down with the flu,"she read. "I'm at her house. Love, Mom." Julie groaned and quickly dialed Grandma's number. "You've got to come home,...
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You First
"I get this one," said Mike, grabbing the biggest piece of pie. His sister Melissa frowned. "You always take the biggest piece for yourself," she grumbled. Their brother Josh joined in. "Yeah," he said. "Can't you ever think of anyone but yourself?" Mike just scowled at Josh and went out to play games with some neighborhood kids. As Mike and his friends played in the back yard, his voice could often be heard over all the others. "Me first!" he shouted whenever a new game began. Melissa and...
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Regular Care Needed
"Look at the plant Grandma gave me," said Adele when she came home after spending an afternoon with her grandmother. "Grandma says it will have flowers. Can I keep it in my room and take care of it myself?" Mom nodded, so Adele took the plant to her room, where she made a place for it on her dresser. From time to time, Adele checked for buds on the plant. She frowned when she found only the stems and leaves--and they seemed to be turning brown. "Are there buds on your plant?" Grandma asked...
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Bumper Sticker Warning
"Look at that bumper sticker." Evan pointed ahead. "It says, 'Life is short, and then you die.'" Evan looked at his mother. "Is that supposed to be funny?" "Maybe--but it's not funny," said Mom. After a moment she added. "It does make a point, though. Remember all the cicadas that were around last summer?" "Those big bugs that were kind of like grasshoppers, but with big wings?" Evan asked. "The ones that were always making such a lot of noise?" He laughed. "They were always flying into...
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Louder than Words
"Mom! Come see what I found!" Jos tugged on his mother's hand and led her to the back porch. He pointed to a large box. Mom looked inside. "Three puppies!" she exclaimed. "Yeah. I found them in the ditch. Can we keep them?" Jos frowned. "Do you think they've been without their mother very long?" he asked anxiously. "Not too long, but they'll need to be fed soon," Mom said, petting a fuzzy black puppy. "I'll warm a little milk and we'll see if they'll take it. And no, we can't keep them--at...
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Watch Out!
Sarah almost bumped into her mother whenMom stopped short as they walked on the bike path near their home. Sarah started to say something, but she noticed the shushing finger her mother held to her lips. Mom pointed to the side of the trail a little ahead of them. A small animal was standing in the tall grass. At first Sarah thought it was a cat, but then she saw the white stripe. As Sarah gasped softly in surprise, Mom looked at her and grinned. They both stood still for an extra minute or...
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Just Like Dad
Bethany laughed as she watched her little brother Shawn playing in the living room. He had climbed up into Dad's favorite chair and was pretending to read the newspaper. As he crossed his feet and tried to make them reach the footstool, he shouted, "Look at me! I'm just like Daddy!" Bethany couldn't resist giving Shawn a big hug. "Wait right there so we can show Mommy what a big boy you are!" she said. By the time Bethany returned to the living room with Mom, Shawn had put the paper down on...
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Does It Pay?
As Brandon dragged his snow shovel home, the cold air seemed to go right through to his bones. Shoveling Mrs. Walker's driveway and front walk had been a big job--especially since he'd had to do it alone. Brandon was glad to find that his mom had a cup of hot chocolate waiting for him when he got home. "Thanks," he said with a sigh as he slumped onto a kitchen chair. "Know what, Mom? I sometimes wonder if doing the right thing really pays. I mean . . . it just doesn't seem fair." Mom looked...
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Old and Honorable
Anna dropped her book on the counter. "I'm going to take this back to the library and get something else to read," she said. "The stories in this book are just too wacky. I don't like what the people do in the one I just read. Idon't think anything like that could ever happen anyway." "What's it about?" asked Mom. "Is it supposed to be a true story?" Anna looked at the book. "Well, no, I guess not," she said. "The story is about a man who lived with his son Jeb. The man was old, and his...
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A New Heart
"Wow!" Brent's eyes were wide with amazement. His parents had just explained to him and his younger brother Sammy that the doctors had decided Grandpa should have a heart transplant as soon as a donor could be found. "It's amazing what doctors have learned to do," said Dad. "We must remember, though, that it's a dangerous operation and isn't always successful. Let's pray for Grandpa and trust the Lord for the outcome." "But wait a minute! What if Grandpa has the heart transplant and then...
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A Better Comparison
"Anything interesting happen in class today?" asked Mom as Yolanda slid into the car and fastened her seat belt. "I got a seventy-three on my history test." Yolanda forced a smile. Mom glanced at her daughter. "That's kinda low for you. What happened?" Yolanda shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know," she said, "but it's not such a bad grade. Some kids got only forty on the test." "Really?" exclaimed Mom. "Was there a problem with the test? Did anybody do well? What was the highest score?"...
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Love or Tolerance
"Guess what?" Tim jumped into the back seat of the car. "We have a new exchange student--all the way from China. His name is Ming." Mom smiled. "Sounds interesting," she said. "Did you get to talk with him?" Tim nodded. "He's a Buddhist, and he wanted to hear about my God, so I told him about Jesus. Ming thought that was cool." Tim frowned. "But I didn't know what to say about his religion. Would it have been okay to say it sounds cool, too?" "Do you think it sounds cool to worship other...
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Secret Mission
"Mom, may I have an advance on my allowance?" asked Lily one day. "An advance?" repeated Mom. "What do you need it for?" Lily took a deep breath. "I can't tell you," she said. "It's a secret." "The last time you asked for money and didn't want to tell me why," said Mom, "you had hit a softball through Mr. Grimes' window." "I haven't broken anything, Mom. Honest! Please trust me," pleaded Lily. "It's for a good reason, but I want to keep it between me and God." Mom looked at Lily...
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A Dirty Mouth
Dad reached for his Bible after dinner. "What song would you like to sing before I read?" he asked, looking up from the passage he had selected. Aaron spoke up quickly. "Let's sing 'What a Mighty God We Serve,'" he suggested. "We've been singing that in Sunday school." He looked at his little brother, who was eating chocolate pudding. "Better put your spoon down, Tory," added Aaron. "You can't sing while you eat." Tory put his spoon on the table, but when the others began to sing, he did not...
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Who Sees?
Phil looked up from his puzzle as his mother walked into the house with two bags of groceries. "Hi, honey," she said. "There are two more bags of groceries in the car. Will you get them for me? And please pick up the other stuff I spilled, too, okay? When I grabbed my purse along with these bags, it was upside down, and some things fell out." "Okay, Mom." Phil nodded and hurried out to the garage. He took the bags of groceries into the house and then went back to get the things that had...
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In Your Head and Heart
"Dad! I think you've got a bite!" Blake pointed excitedly to the bright yellow bobber on his father's fishing line. It was madly dancing up and down. "Oh, you're right!" exclaimed Dad. He quickly raised his pole and reeled in a fish. The boat bobbed gently in the breeze as he took the fish off the hook and put it into the bucket of water. "You almost lost him, Dad," Blake said. "Guess you were daydreaming, huh? Thinking about our vacation next week? Iknow Ikeep thinking about it!" Dad shook...
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Nobody’s Perfect
Megan shrugged when she missed her basketball shot. "Oh, well. Nobody's perfect!" she said with a laugh, and the other girls laughed with her. "Nobody's perfect" had become a phrase Megan used often, and her friends almost knew ahead of time when they would hear it again. One day Megan went with her friend Amie to Bible Club. "That was interesting,"said Megan as she and Amie walked home afterward, "but I sure don't agree with everything Mrs. Gates said. According to her, no matter how good...
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Alligator Lies
Jordan chewed his fingernail. He hated writing stories; nothing worthwhile ever came from his pencil. But the assignment was to write a true story about a pet and be prepared to read it to the class. The only pet Jordan ever owned was Sherwin, a boring goldfish. Goldfish don't do tricks or play fetch, he thought, so what is there to say? The hot, stuffy classroom seemed unbearable, and Jordan let out a windy sigh. Guess I'll have to make up a story, he decided. How about a pet alligator?...
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Wrong Reaction
Chloe walked into the house more briskly than usual. "I've had it with her," she said, pulling up a kitchen chair and plunking herself down. "You've had it with who?" asked Mom. "Jolene--that's who." Restlessly, Chloe pushed the chair back and fiddled with a strand of her hair. She bit her lower lip before starting to explain. "Do you remember what I gave her for her birthday?" Mom nodded. "You gave her a year's subscription to the same Christian teen magazine that you get. As I recall, you...
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The Broken Thumb
I like being on our youth group planning committee, thought Shelly as the members shared ideas for making their meetings more interesting. But she frowned when Cole offered his suggestion. "How about planning a missions program that reaches out to kids in our community?" he asked. "And let's give everyone in the youth group something to do. You know--get everyone involved." Mr. Gray, the youth leader, liked the idea. "That sounds good," he said, "and it will fit in nicely with the Bible...
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Leftovers
"Mom, that sign is still there!" Joelle pressed her nose against the car window as they drove past a neighbor's yard. The big sign said, "Free Kittens," and Joelle persistently pleaded with her mother to let her have one. "Well, Dad and I talked about it," said Mom. "We decided it would be okay." Joelle squealed with joy, and as soon as they got back home, they went to the neighbors' house to choose a kitten. Joelle picked the smallest one. "I named him Runt," she said happily when she...
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A Clean Uniform
David gathered up his dirty clothes. He put them into a basket and carried it downstairs to the laundry room where his mother was putting detergent into the washer. "My baseball uniform is in here, Mom," he said. "It got pretty dirty when I slid into home plate." David laughed and added, "But it was worth it! We won! Now I'll need it for the game tomorrow." Mom smiled. "No problem," she said. "It will be ready for you." After the game the next day, David got into the car with a scowl and...
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Sharpened Tools
"This knife will barely cut butter!" complained Mom as she struggled to cut slices of roast beef for supper. "Our nice dinner is going to look like Iripped it apart with my teeth!" Dad laughed. "The knife can't be quite that bad," he said, "but I'll take it down to my workshop and sharpen it later this evening." After dinner, Liz approached her father. "Dad, I'm stuck on this math problem," she said. "Can you help me?" She held out her paper and pencil. "I'll try," agreed Dad, but he soon...
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Friends of God
"Did you know there are only three kinds of people in this world?" Savannah asked her Sunday school teacher one day. "And what would they be?" asked Mr. Ken. "Those who can count and those who can't," said Savannah with a grin. Mr. Ken hesitated a moment and then burst out laughing. "I don't get it. Why is that so funny?" asked Lon, one of the boys in the class. "I said three kinds of people," replied Savannah, "but I named only two--those who can count and those who can't. So I'm obviously...
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False Labels
Maggie's Sunday school class was enjoying a slumber party at her teacher's cottage. "Sleep well," said Mrs. Gordon when the girls finally began to settle down. A sleepy-looking bunch of girls assembled in the dining room the next morning. "Breakfast is almost ready," said Mrs. Gordon, "so we'll have a short time of devotions first, and then we'll eat. We have bacon and eggs, cereal, sweet rolls--quite a variety this morning." She pointed to some of the things already on the table. "And be...
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Weight Watchers
"Is something bothering you, Brian?" Mom asked as she pushed her chair back after dinner. "You've been unusually quiet this evening." Brian sighed. "I came in third in our track meet today," he blurted out. "I was always first last year. I don't know what's the matter with me." "I do," said Stephanie. "You're too fat." "Stephanie!" Dad reprimanded her. "That was not kind." "Is she ever kind?" Brian asked sarcastically. He scowled at his sister. "You're not so skinny yourself," he added....
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Watch Your Step
"Hi, Kyle." Startled, Kyle glanced up. Seeing his uncle, he quickly put the magazine he was reading behind his back. "Oh, Uncle Joe! I-I didn't hear you coming," said Kyle. Uncle Joe raised his brows. "So I noticed. I just came to see if you'd like to go with me to the construction site of the new bank. I need to talk to the contractor." "Oh, cool!" Kyle jumped up. "Let me ask Mom." "I already did--she said okay." Uncle Joe turned. "Let's go." "Okay! But I . . . I've . . . I'm thirsty," said...
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Loyal as a Dog
Only one day of vacation left, thought James when he woke up the day before school was to begin. I'm spending the whole day outside, he decided. First of all, I'll take Buster for a swim in the lake. His big, black dog loved to swim. "James! Are you awake, Son?" his mother called. "It's time to get up. You need to finish weeding the garden this morning." James had forgotten all about weeding the vegetable patch. Oh, well. If I hurry, I'll still have time to do other stuff, he thought,...
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Do It
"Hi, Mrs. Brown." Jalyn greeted her next-door neighbor who had stepped out of her house as Jalyn was walking by. "Hi, Jalyn," said Mrs. Brown. "Can you do something for me? The after-school Bible club in my home starts the day after tomorrow, so I'd like these invitations passed out. Could you distribute some of them today?" "Sure," agreed Jalyn. "No problem." She took several of the invitations and went on to her house. "Mrs. Brown wants these passed out today because her Bible club starts...
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The Password
"Hi, Mom," Miguel tossed his book bag onto a chair and sat down at the kitchen table. Mom was pulling a pan of cookies from the oven. "Hi, Miguel." Mom turned and smiled. "So how was school today?" "Great!" he answered. "Can I have a cookie?" "Sure," agreed Mom, "but just one. We'll be having dinner shortly." She handed him a cookie and then asked, "What was so great at school?" Miguel took a big bite. "Do you know what a password is, Mom?" he asked. "Why don't you tell me?" Mom suggested....
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Ugly Brown Shoes
The first day of school always made Natasha nervous, but today was the worst ever because her family had recently moved to a new town. She smiled shyly at a couple of girls. One nodded toward Natasha's feet and mouthed, "Weird." The other rolled her eyes. They turned their backs and giggled. Natasha shifted her new backpack to the other shoulder and limped to her locker. The kids are already making fun of my shoes, she thought. What will they say when they notice the way I walk? A girl with...
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Gone Fishin’ (Cont’d.)
I'm going to do it, Todd decided as he thought more about his dad's suggestion that he be a fisher of men--especially of his new friend. I want Pete to know Jesus, too. So whenever Todd saw Pete, Todd would mention a Bible verse he'd learned, or he'd invite Pete to church or Bible Club or a Sunday school party. Pete always refused and often acted annoyed when Todd quoted a Bible verse. Todd was frustrated. "I give up, Dad," he said one evening. "Pete never wants to come to church, and he's...
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Gone Fishin’
Todd grabbed his pole and bait and hurried down to the river. When he reached his favorite spot, he saw a boy already sitting there. "Bummer!" Todd grumbled to himself. He hesitated, then decided to stay at that spot anyway. "Catchin' anything?" he asked as the boy jerked his line completely out of the water. The boy looked up. "Naw, this isn't a very good spot," he said with a shrug. Todd couldn't believe his ears. This is the best spot on the whole river, he thought. "I've been sitting...
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Grounded for Good
Leah checked the clock again. "Staring at the clock is not going to make the time go by any quicker," Mom said as she loaded the dishwasher. "Nor is it going to get the laundry folded." Why can't I do that later? thought Leah, holding her head in her hands. It's not like I wasn't ever going to do it. I just wanted to watch the game show on TV first. Now I have to miss the entire show. And I'm grounded besides! Leah glanced at the clock again. "Mom, may I fold the laundry while I watch my...
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Hungry People
"The Church of the Open Bible," read Colton as Dad pulled away from the curb. "We sure were wrong about this church!" Their family was on vacation and when they had looked for a church to attend, they thought the name of this church indicated that there would be preaching from the Word of God. "We were the only ones in church who had Bibles," Colton added, "and there weren't any in the pews, either." "No, but nobody needed a Bible," said his sister Josie. "All the preacher talked about was...
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Fame and Fortune
"Some day you're going to walk through this building and see my helmet and uniform number all over the place," said Ryan with a grin as he and the other boys in his Sunday school class left the Football Hall of Fame. Jamie laughed loudly. "Fat chance!" he said. "You just wait--you'll see!" declared Ryan. "I'm going to be as well-known as the guys whose stuff is in there now. Everybody will recognize me when I walk down the street, and I'm going to make a whole bunch of money!" "Sounds...
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The Snowstorm
Snow swirled around the car, and it seemed to Rachel and Emmy as though it was being flung at them from some gigantic unseen hand. "I can hardly see anything!" exclaimed Rachel. "Everything is so white!" "Yes," agreed Mom. "It's hard to even see the middle line on the road!" Emmy pointed ahead. "Look, Dad! There's a truck up ahead of us. Couldn't we make better time if we stayed close behind it?" she asked. "It looks like more people have the same idea," said Dad as two cars passed them and...
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Liftoff!
"I wish I could have actually seen a space shuttle launch," said Clay one evening. "At school today, we had a film about one. It showed a lot of the stuff the astronauts had to do, and we heard clips of them talking to the space control center. It was really cool, but it's not like seeing it for real!" "Well, they aren't doing any launches now, but they probably will again sometime in the future. So why don't you study to be an astronaut?" suggested his brother Patrick. "I heard on the news...
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Roller Coasters
Jeremy grinned as he and his sister stood in line for their first ride on the new Thrillinator roller coaster. "Before you know it, we'll be zooming down those slick, metal rails--upside-down, downside-up and every which-way in between," said Jeremy. "I can hardly wait!" "I can!" replied Tiffany. "I can't believe you like doing this stuff! This thing will hurl us at incredibly dangerous speeds through insane twists and turns and drops. I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to ride...
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Noisy Kids (Cont’d.)
It had been hard to do, but Joel had apologized to the Petersons for his bad behavior in church. He had also told them he hoped they would visit the church again. To Joel's surprise, the Petersons came back to church the very next Sunday. Cool! he thought when they even gave him a friendly smile as they walked in. Before the service started, Joel's dad took out a notebook and a pen. He held them out to Joel. "I want you to write down at least three things the pastor teaches or talks about in...
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Noisy Kids
"I heard some sad news at the church board meeting last night," said Joel's father one morning. "You did?" Joel looked up. "What was it, Dad?" "It involves a family who moved into the yellow brick house on Elm Street," Dad told him. "Their name is Peterson. Last Sunday they attended our church, and on Monday night Pastor Holt visited them. They apparently liked what they heard of his message." Dad paused. "What's sad about that?" asked Joel in surprise. "Sounds fine to me!" "The sad part is...
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How Many Bibles?
"I've got the Gideon New Testament they gave us in school and the one Mom and Dad gave each of us when we turned five. And I've got the one I earned in Sunday school," Tom hollered from his room to his sister Tara's. "Did you count the one you got for memorizing all those verses in Vacation Bible School?" Tara yelled back. "Twins! Twins!" their father called from the foot of the stairs. "What is all the shouting about up there?" Tara ran to the top of the steps. "Oh, Daddy, the man who spoke...
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Cameron’s Lie
Cameron paced his room. For a couple of days, he had meant to confess something to Mom. It grew harder to do each day he put it off. I've got to tell her, he thought with a sigh, so I might as well do it and get it over with. When Cameron reached the kitchen, he saw that the refrigerator was pulled away from the wall. Mom was kneeling behind it with a bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush. "What are you doing?" Cameron asked. Mom looked up. "I'm trying to get rid of all this dirt that's...
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The Wax Figures
"That looks like fun," said Renee as her mother showed her how to make candles. Mom had thin sheets of wax and knew how to heat them just right, put in a wick, and form special, interesting shapes. "Do you think I could make one shaped like a flower?" "Sure. When you've practiced a little more," said Mom. "Make one or two simpler ones first." "Okay," agreed Renee, and she got busy with a new one. After working a few minutes, they were interrupted by the shrill ring of the telephone, and...
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Forgiveness Plus
"Please forgive me, Lord," prayed Andy one night at bedtime. "I didn't mean to run into Mrs. Allen's fence this afternoon. I . . . I guess I shouldn't have been cutting across her lawn, and I . . . I won't do it again. Please forgive me for breaking her rose bush, too. Thank You. Amen." He jumped up and climbed into bed, ready to be tucked in. Andy's mother kissed him and covered him up. "Andy," she said, "you didn't say anything to me about Mrs. Allen's fence. What happened?" Andy frowned....
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Surprise!
Luke was worried. He and his family had been living in their new home a whole week, but he still hadn't seen any kids in the neighborhood. Luke had moved away from good friends, and he was beginning to think he would never find new ones here. "Pray about it," said Dad when Luke told him his problem. "Pray about it," said Mom when Luke told her about it. "Pray about it," said his older sister when Luke looked sad. So Luke prayed. He asked God to send him a friend--someone he would like as...
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Worth the Wait
"Hey, Dad," said Elise one day as she leafed through a garden catalog, "there's a section in here called Unusual Seeds. Can we order some?" "Why not?" agreed Dad. "Exactly what kind did you have in mind?" "Ginseng," said Elise. "Is that okay? This catalog says it's so valuable that its dried roots will sell for a lot of money in health food stores." Dad looked at the catalog. "I don't know," he said. "Those seeds cost a lot, and it seems to me I've heard they take a long time to come up and...
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Truly Sorry
As Jesse angrily stomped out of the room, a swear word exploded from his lips. "Jesse! Come back here!" Mom ordered. Jesse returned, gritted his teeth, and stared at the floor. "Did you say what I think you said?" asked Mom. Jesse didn't answer. "You know we don't tolerate swearing," said Mom sternly, "and you know the punishment for it." "But, Mom, I didn't mean to swear," Jesse pleaded. "All the guys at school say that word and . . . and it just slipped out. But I'll be more careful! It...
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Tie a Yellow Ribbon
It seemed to Alex that every tree in town was decorated with a yellow ribbon. He knew they were put there to welcome servicemen home. "But why yellow ribbons?" he asked his mother. "Why not red, white, and blue ones?" "Well, there's an old story about it--actually, there are several different versions of the story," said Mom. "According to one, a young man--we'll call him Jim--committed some crime and went to prison far from his home. In those days, people couldn't travel as easily as we do...
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A Heart of Beauty
Audrey frowned as she squinted at the mirror. As if glasses and braces aren't bad enough, she thought. Now my hair seems to have a mind of its own. I've used oodles of Mom's hair stuff, and it still sticks out in all directions! Sighing, Audrey turned off the bathroom light and headed downstairs. It was still early, but she knew her brother Daniel would be up. He had to leave that morning to return to college after his Christmas break. "Hey, beautiful," Daniel greeted her as she came through...
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Finding the Way
Austin jumped up when he heard his father call his name. "Sounds like my dad's ready to go, Rick," he said. The boys had played in Rick's room while their fathers talked out in the yard. Rick went outdoors with Austin. The night was black; no moon, no stars. "Hey . . . don't you have a flashlight?" asked Rick as their fathers bid each other goodbye. "You can borrow mine." "We won't need one--it's not very far to our house. We'll just cut across the field and through the woods," replied...
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New Skin and New Habits
"Grandma! Grandpa!" called Janie and Tyler as they ran outside to greet their grandparents, who had just pulled into the driveway. Grandma gave them each a big hug. "We missed you while you were on vacation!" she exclaimed. "Did you have a good trip?" "We sure did--and come see what we brought home," said Tyler. He and Janie led their grandparents into the family room. "Look," said Tyler, pointing to a covered glass bowl filled with living green plants. "Nice plants," Grandpa said. "Very...
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In Shape
"I don't know whose idea it was to have a mini-band camp during Christmas vacation!" exclaimed Drew when he got back home. "I vote to keep it in summer as usual after this. I am so-o-o tired! We had to get up early every morning for a march before breakfast--and after breakfast, we marched again! And one day, I played my trumpet so long and hard that I split my lip." "Didn't you have any fun?" asked Drew's little sister. Drew grinned. "Sure, Kadie. One night we had a huge pillow fight," he...
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Report Cards
The front door opened quietly. Good. No one in sight, thought Tom. He tiptoed down the hall and into his bedroom. Carefully, he shut his door, and slid his report card into his baseball card album. Mom will never think to look there, he thought. When Dad came home, Tom was outside playing ball. Dad greeted him, then went into the house where Mom was making supper. With a smile, Dad took a new baseball card from his pocket. "Look what I got for Tom," he said. "He's been wanting this one. I'll...
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Don’t Touch
(Editor's note: Providing Christian training on this story's subject matter is important. However, it may not be appropriate for very young children.) Princess purred loudly as her four tiny kittens nestled beside her. But when Kim leaned over the box, Princess hissed and swatted the air. Kim jumped back. "I only wanted to pet your babies, Princess. What's wrong with that?" she asked. Of course, Princess didn't answer with words, but her look said, "Don't try that again!" And when Kim...
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The Ruler
Peter looked up from the scale model of an old frontier town he was building. He grinned at his father who had come into the workshop. "Hi, Dad. I was just measuring the roof to make sure it will fit on the train station," said Peter. "My town looks great, don't you think?" Dad went over to look at the tiny buildings. "Yes, it does," he agreed. "I can't wait to see it all painted and finished," said Peter, "but there's still a lot to do first. I have to measure carefully to get everything...
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Not for Sale
Candy chattered excitedly on the way home from Sunday school. "We're going to have a party," she said. "Miss Weaver asked if I wanted to help with the decorations, and I said I would! I'm going to get pine tree branches, and she'll use them with some bright red ribbons." "Where do you think you're gonna get them?" asked her brother Sean. "We don't have any pine trees. We don't even have a Christmas tree yet." "It shouldn't be hard to find some branches," replied Candy confidently. But...
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A Growing Christian
"You're growing like a weed!" Mark's mother stood with tape measure in hand. She had just checked to see how much he had grown since the last time they measured. "Almost two inches," she announced. "Wow!" Mark was impressed with himself. "Hey, Mom, what makes kids grow?" he asked. "Well, a healthy diet, good exercise, and plenty of rest are important," Mom replied. "Of course, it's really God who gives life and has made our bodies so that they will grow." "I wish I were as tall as Dad," said...
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Unexpected Answer
Christmas was over. Colorful wrapping paper and bright ribbons had been cleared away, and the opened presents were displayed under the tree. Because Dad had been out of work quite a bit the past year, most of the gifts were very practical, useful things like socks, sweaters, mittens, and boots. "God surely is good," commented Dad. "My best Christmas present is that He has provided a job for me. It's an answer to prayer!" Grandma Davis noticed her grandson's frown as he got up and walked to...
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Something Missing
"Hi, Aunt Ellie!" exclaimed Jane when her aunt and uncle arrived for Christmas dinner. "Hi, Uncle Bill." "Hi, yourself," said Uncle Bill as Aunt Ellie gave Jane a hug. "All day we've been so busy wrapping gifts and adjusting the tree and fixing goodies that we were almost late getting here,"Aunt Ellie said merrily, heading for the kitchen with a tray of treats. "Christmas is such a busy time, but it's fun!" Uncle Bill winked at Jane and handed her presents to add to those under the tree....
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The Sooner the Better
"Kelsey, would you be willing to share your testimony with the rest of the group next week?" Mr. Hilton asked after the Bible club meeting. "Oh-h-h, I don't know," Kelsey responded. "I don't really have anything to share. I mean . . . when people give testimonies, they tell about all the bad things they did before they were saved. They have a lot to thank Jesus for since He saved them from all that stuff." Kelsey sighed. "I didn't do a lot of bad things before I was saved, so what would I...
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Two Baby Boys
Hannah scrunched her nose against the viewing window of the hospital nursery. Her baby brother was just five hours old. He lay snuggled in a blue blanket and was wearing a tiny knit cap on his fuzzy head. He whimpered a little and nuzzled into the blanket. Dad walked up behind Hannah and squeezed her shoulders gently. She smiled up at him. "So how does it feel to be a big sister?" Dad asked. Hannah answered by doing a complete twirl on her tip-toes, right there in the hall of the hospital....
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Silver Dollar
"Mia, isn't it time to get ready to go with your class to the nursing home?" asked Mom. "I thought Mrs. Wilson asked you to play the piano today. You have to leave in about fifteen minutes, don't you?" Mia shrugged. "It's too late already. This month they're going earlier than usual," she said. "I told Mrs. Wilson I had other plans." "That's too bad." Mom glanced at a picture on the wall, which read: "Only one life; 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." Mom shook her...
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Best Friends
When Anthony's mother called him home for supper, he came in whistling a happy tune. Mom smiled. "You certainly are in a good mood," she said. "Yeah. I just spent the whole afternoon with my very best friend in the whole wide world," replied Anthony. "Seth and I had fun today." "I see," said Mom. "What makes him your very best friend in the whole wide world?" Anthony thought a moment. "Well, we always have fun playing games or talking or just hanging out," he explained. "We help each other,...
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All For Good
"Won't Mom and Dad be surprised when they get home tonight and see the cake we made to welcome them back?" asked Heidi excitedly. "I can't wait!" As she popped the cake into the oven, the telephone rang, and Grandma answered it. "That was your father, honey," said Grandma when she hung up the phone. "Their flight was overbooked, so they'll be on tomorrow's early morning flight." "But, Grandma," protested Heidi, "that's not fair! I was counting on having them home tonight!" "I know you're...
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Cry Baby
"Stephen's actually crying!" exclaimed Josiah in disgust. "Why does he have to be such a baby?" He took a bite of a freshly-made chocolate chip cookie. "Stephen's best friend just moved two hours away. They've been friends since kindergarten. They played on the same teams for seven years and did almost everything together," said Mom as she put a second batch of cookies in the oven. "Stephen is your brother. You should have more sympathy for him." "He's also a twelve-year-old boy who should...
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Lesson from a Heron
Rob and Alan leaned their bicycles against a tree and started down the hill. "Tell me again," said Alan. "Why are we here?" Rob shrugged. "I'm here because I got mad when I couldn't figure out a game, and I sorta threw the pieces on the floor," he said. "Mom said that was no way for a Christian to behave. She told me to pick them up and then come out here, watch a blue heron, and bring back a word--one that applies to God and should apply to me, too." Rob grinned and added, "You're here to...
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Mary’s Part
Speaking parts were being assigned for the church Christmas program, and Sabrina eagerly waited to hear her name called. She was sure she was the perfect one to take the part of Mary, the mother of Jesus. No one can memorize the lines as well as me, she thought. "Holly," Mrs. Roberts' voice interrupted Sabrina's thoughts, "I think you would be a good choice to play the part of Mary." Sabrina gasped. Holly! She stutters sometimes, thought Sabrina. What kind of a Mary would she be? Sabrina...
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Smart Birds
Brent sat on the sandy beach, watching the ocean waves come in and go out again. He watched the shore birds looking for food on the damp sand. They seemed to sense when the big waves were about to hit, and seconds before the water reached them, they backed farther up the beach or flew away. Then they returned when the water receded, once more finding food. Over and over they repeated the action. "Those are smart birds," Brent told his dad, who had come to join him. "When the waves go out,...
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Never Give Up!
THWACK! The baseball sailed over the outfield fence! "Home run . . . home run . . . home run," the crowd chanted as Jacob trotted around the bases, feeling like a real winner. The scoreboard flashed the winning run, and Jacob's teammates bounded onto the field. After the game, Jacob and his dad stopped to celebrate with double fudge ice cream cones. As they went into the ice cream shop, Jacob's friend Lance was coming out. Lance muttered a greeting, but didn't stop to talk. "You know, Dad,"...
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All Better
Tessa put her baby doll in its cradle. "Night-night," she said, covering the doll with a blanket. She set her Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls on a rocking chair and pushed them gently back and forth. "One, two, three dolls," she counted. "That's how many old I am--one, two, three." Darby, Tessa's new puppy, bounded into the room. Quick as a wink, he snatched Raggedy Andy in his mouth and ran around the room. "No! No!" yelled Tessa, and she ran after Darby. "Bad puppy! Give back my dolly!" She...
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Secret Service
Kara and Adam waited patiently while Mom unlocked the front door of their home. After working at the department store all day, Mom walked wearily into the living room. "I sure am tired tonight, and my feet hurt," she said. "I wish I didn't have to work on Saturdays. But did you kids have a good day at Gina's house?" "It was fine," said Kara. "Did you hear from Dad today?" Their father was away on a trip to another city, hoping to find work. "Yes. He had a busy day, too,"said Mom, "but no...
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Dried and Difficult
Carrie sighed. She was supposed to wash the breakfast dishes while her mother went to get groceries. I sure wish the dishwasher wasn't broke, thought Carrie. Oh, well. It won't take long to do those few dishes. I'll do them a little later. So she sat down to enjoy a new book before starting her work. It was almost noon before she suddenly remembered the unwashed dishes. Carrie hurried to the kitchen and tackled the job. She quickly ran the dishcloth across a plate. But they'd had eggs for...
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Little Doughnut Holes
"Where did Mom go?" asked Kaitlyn. She looked all around as she and Caleb made their way past the booths at the craft fair. "She stopped at a booth back there," Caleb answered, "but she said we could to on. She'll find us--or we'll find her. Don't worry." The two continued down the midway of the fairgrounds. "Mm-m-m. Do you smell what I smell?" Caleb asked after they walked a short distance. "Smells like a bakery," Kaitlyn replied, "and there it is!" They walked up to the booth where...
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Transplants
Cammie moved a flower to a new location in the yard and carefully packed dirt around it. She remembered how careful she and Mom had been when they had transplanted flowers earlier. Even so, not all of those had lived, so now they were trying again. "I hope these flowers do well this time," said Mom. "Let's make sure they get water and plant food when they need it." Cammie nodded. "Ricky says he likes taking care of them, but if he's going to weed these, I hope he'll be more careful," she...
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Sheep and Shepherds
"What story will you read for devotions tonight, Dad?" Jared asked. "It's called 'Sheep and Shepherds.' It's about a boy named Joseph who was visiting his grandparents in Montana," Dad replied. "Ready to listen?" Jared and his sister Cyndie nodded, and Dad began reading the story. "'Get up, Joseph!" called Grandpa. 'The sheep are coming!' "Joseph instantly jumped out of bed, pulled on his jeans and shirt, and grabbed his camera. His grandparents had told him how shepherds lead their sheep up...
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Not by Might
"Bud!" exclaimed Dad when he got home from work. "How did you get that swollen lip and black eye? Have you been in a fight?" "We-e-l-l, yeah," admitted Bud. Dad frowned. "What in the world happened?" he asked. "Tyler started it," said Bud quickly, "and besides, the Bible tells us to fight. I know there are verses about putting on armor, and I read one the other day about fighting a good fight of faith. This was a real good one!" Dad sighed. "You know those Bible verses aren't referring to...
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Pizza, Please
"We're hungry!" announced Ashley after she and her cousin Madison helped their grandmother get her house ready for the family Christmas party. "Then I guess you'd like something to eat," said Grandma. "What sounds good?" "Pizza!" the girls sang out together. Grandma smiled. "Don't know why I asked," she said. "I just read that pizza is America's favorite meal. Okay, pizza it is--we'll make it." They got out the ingredients to make the dough. When it was ready, both girls helped spread the...
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Martyrs
"Hey, Mom, I'm home," Nate called as he bounded through the back door. Mom greeted him with a smile. "How did school go today?" "Okay, I guess," Nate replied. "We had a spell-down, though, and I goofed on the word 'martyr.' I spelled it m-a-r-t-e-r." "Do you know what a martyr is?" Mom asked. "Sure." Nate nodded. "It's anyone who gives his life for what he believes. We learned in Sunday school that the first Christian martyr was Stephen--at least the first one we know about. He was stoned...
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The Prowler
Shane sat up in bed, startled. Something woke me up. What was it? he wondered. The floors creaked downstairs, and Shane thought he heard footsteps. Is somebody down there? Or am I just imagining things? Feeling scared, Shane tiptoed across the hall and tapped lightly on his parents' bedroom door. When he heard his dad tell him to come in, he opened the door and whispered, "Dad, I think there's a prowler downstairs." Mom and Dad both sat up, and they heard the sounds, too. "Stay here," Dad...
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No Weeds Allowed!
"Look over there, Elliott--under those tall weeds!" said Becca as she and her brother explored the area behind the barn at their new home in the country. She pointed to some plants. "Are those tomatoes?" she asked. "Looks like tomato plants to me," replied Elliott. "Let's pull up the weeds around them so we can see the plants better." "Good idea," agreed Becca. So they began pulling weeds that had grown more than waist high. To their surprise and delight, they found other vegetables as well...
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The Feeder
"Hi, Grandma," said Alicia as she entered her grandmother's house. "Mom said I could stop here on the way home and recite my Bible verses to you."She glanced out the kitchen window. "A squirrel climbed up on your bird feeder, Grandma," Alicia added. "He scared all the birds away and he's taking the food you put out for them. How can we make him leave it alone?" "I don't know," said Grandma. "I've tried several things, but squirrels are very good at finding a way to get at the birdseed." As...
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Canning Time
Janae used a large spoon to carefully lift a peach from the hot water Mom had poured over the fruit. After gently peeling it, she passed it to her mother. Mom cut the peach in half, broke it apart, and removed the pit. "Too bad peaches don't grow around here all year long," said Janae with a sigh. "Then we wouldn't have to can any. It's a lot of work." She lifted out another peach. "How come we do so much canning?" she asked. "I don't think any of my friends do." "Maybe not," said Mom, "but...
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The Prodigal Brothers
"Kent, have you finished your math?" Mom asked. "Not quite, Mom." Kent looked up as he added, "I'm almost done." Mom frowned when she saw his paper covered with doodles. "Don't forget that Dad's taking us to that new buffet for dinner tonight. We leave in about twenty-five minutes. If your homework isn't finished, you stay home," she warned. When it was time to leave, Kent dashed out of the house. His hair was uncombed, and he was buttoning his shirt. He slid into the back seat beside his...
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Something Beautiful
"This is going to be so pretty!" exclaimed Maggie as she helped her grandmother work on a quilt--a wedding gift for Maggie's cousin. "Elise will love this!" Grandma smiled. "Each square is cut from one of her old shirts or dresses," she said. "I plan to make this kind of quilt for all of you kids." She stood up. "Come along . . . I'll show you something." She led Maggie to a storage closet and opened a box half full of cloth squares. Maggie recognized material from some of her favorite...
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The Anti-Virus Program
As Evan began his report for school, lines of gibberish flashed across the monitor. "Brett!" he called, seeing that he needed help from his older brother. "I need the computer, and it's acting weird!" Brett came into the room and typed some commands into the computer. After a moment, he turned to Evan. "Can you use Garrett's computer?" he asked. "I think ours has a virus." Brett frowned. "Maybe we need to get a different anti-virus program." "What's an anti-virus program?" Evan asked. "It's...
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A Letter to Harriet
"It will take a lot of work to make this look good again," said Mom as she handed Molly a piece of sandpaper. "I know, but I'm glad we bought it," replied Molly as she inspected their flea market purchase--a beat-up antique dresser. "It's old, but I really like it." "I do, too," agreed Mom, "and it will be beautiful when we've refinished it." Molly nodded and began pulling the drawers out to clean them. When she removed the second drawer, she thought she heard something fall. She peered into...
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Feeling Special
Micah's heart was heavy as he trudged down the road. Maybe I should run away, he thought, but probably nobody would even notice I was gone. Lately, Micah had felt left out and alone in his family. When his older brother Joe got a home run in a ball game or a good grade on a report card, Mom and Dad were excited and happy and made a big fuss over him. But when Micah did something special, it seemed that his parents just smiled and said something like, "I remember when your brother did that...
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Not Your Fault
Lauren's whole body shook with sobs. "Oh, honey," said Aunt Maria, comforting her, "please try to stop crying so you can tell me what's wrong." With great effort, Lauren did her best to control her crying. Her breath caught in her throat as she said, "Dad and Mom just told me they're getting a divorce. I think it's all my fault." Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Aunt Maria put her arms around Lauren. "I can understand how hurt you are, but you must not blame yourself, Lauren. Your...
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Rescued Kitten
"Mom! Pepper sharpened his claws on the couch again!" called Debbie as she and her friend Tasha went into the family room to play a game. "Oh, no!" exclaimed Mom, coming in and inspecting the couch. "If we keep that cat, we'll have to get him declawed!" "When did you get him?" asked Tasha. "I didn't even know you had a cat." "It was raining when Mom went to the corner store a few days ago," replied Debbie, "and there was this kitten meowing at the door. The store clerk said he was a stray...
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It’s True
"Grandma, this isn't the way it really happened," complained Jessica as she held up her school newspaper. "I wrote this story, but they changed it!" Jessica thrust the paper toward Grandma and pointed to one of the articles. "I'm sorry, honey," said Grandma, "but when we tell stories, people quite often change them. They might twist what we say or leave out some of our words. They think they're making the story better." "But this was a true story! You can't change the facts," protested...
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Dirty Hands
"Wow, Daniel! You sure told old Frazier off," said Nick, laughing loudly. Daniel grinned as he climbed on the school bus. "He figured I cheated on a test, but he couldn't prove it! Just because he's the teacher . . ." Daniel shrugged. All the way home, he and Nick amused the others on the bus by relating how Daniel had--in their words--"let Frazier have it." When Daniel got home, his little sister Sydney greeted him eagerly. "Look, Danny," she said. "Mommy let me make an after-school snack...
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The Raft Rescue
"Help! Help!" Todd screamed as his homemade raft rushed down the swiftly moving river toward the falls. He and his friends had built the raft and tied it to a sturdy elm tree. They often used it as an imaginary tugboat, pretending to be on the Mississippi River. But the rope had become badly frayed and had snapped when Todd jumped on the raft this time. It lunged out from the river's edge and headed rapidly downstream toward a place where the river plunged fifty feet. Todd waved his arms...
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Older Than the Hills
"Look at this, Grandpa," said Simon. "It almost looks like this stone is rotting away," Simon was helping his grandfather in the garden and had found a strange-looking stone, full of tiny holes. "Hey--maybe this is a fossil. I saw a TV show about them." Grandpa took the stone and looked it over. "I think you're right," he agreed. "So what did you learn about fossils?" "I learned that when a living thing, like a plant or an animal, is buried in mud or clay for years and years, the material...
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Like Zacchaeus
Jennifer raced home from the ice cream stand. She skipped and hopped and would have turned somersaults, but she didn't want to spill her snowcone. She had saved money all week for this triple tutti-frutti treat, and now she had enough money for another snowcone the next day! The girl at the stand had given her too much change! When Jennifer bought a snowcone the following day, she felt guilty and didn't enjoy the treat as much as she thought she would. But . . . after all, it's not my fault...
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Leftovers
"Grandma asked if you could help clean her garage this week," Mom told Abe, "and Mr. Hill wants you to sweep his shop each afternoon." "He does? Good!" Abe nodded. "He always pays good." Abe hesitated, then added, "But I've got lots of stuff to do, so I won't have time to do Grandma's garage. And I'll be too busy this week to go with my Sunday school class to pass out tracts at the mall." Mom frowned. She had noticed that Abe always seemed to have time for himself but was too busy to help...
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Lukewarm Christianity
"Can I have something cold to drink, Mom?" Tara asked as she came in from the backyard one hot afternoon. "Sure, but I think ice water is all we have," said Mom. "We're even out of milk." "We have powdered milk, though, don't we? Can I use it to make chocolate milk?" Tara asked. "Good idea." Mom went to the cupboard and took out the box of powdered milk. "Here you go. The chocolate syrup is in the fridge." Tara mixed some of the powder with water. "I need some advice," she said as she added...
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The Surprise Ride
With a click, Mom fastened her seatbelt. As she adjusted the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of Jeremy's worried face. "Honey, is everything all right?" she asked. "I'm afraid to go to the dentist, Mom," Jeremy moaned with both arms wrapped around his stomach. "It's making my stomach hurt." "I'm sorry, honey," said Mom. "You always liked Dr. Kent, and I'm sure you'll like Dr. Jameson, too. But I totally understand. Going someplace new can be scary. There have been times I had...
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Another Bible?
"Look, Dad." Cassie handed a book to her father. "Lana loaned this to me. They use it in her church--it's their Bible. It reads almost like ours, except for a few things in it that aren't in ours. A lot of it is the same, though." Dad frowned as he flipped some pages. "Yes, but it's dangerous," he warned. "How can it be dangerous?" Cassie asked. "It teaches a lot of the same things our Bible does--things like loving one another and not stealing or lying. Lana showed me verses about stuff...
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The Poor Rich Man
"I have some deliveries for you to make, Sam," said Mr. Ward, owner of the local pharmacy in their small town. As a special service, he allowed senior citizens to order things by phone and have them delivered to their homes. He handed Sam a couple of packages. Sam whistled as he rang the doorbell of the big house on the hill. The door jerked open, and Mr. Atkins stood there, frowning. "Well . . . what do you want?" Mr. Atkins demanded. "I'm Sam Parker, and Mr. Ward sent these things for...
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Free as a Butterfly
Isabella felt her face burn with embarrassment and anger. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Conner and Amos looking at her and laughing. "All those freckles," she heard Amos whisper, and then they laughed again. "Amos! Conner!" Mrs. Skinner spoke sternly. "Settle down!" At recess time, Isabella didn't feel like talking or playing with her friends. She found a grassy spot and plopped down by herself. I hate my stupid freckles, she thought as she watched a butterfly fluttering...
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No Longer Nervous
"Mom, I don't know why I promised to play my guitar in the youth concert!" groaned Ben. "I'm really scared about performing in front of so many people!" "Well . . . I remember another time you were really scared," Mom replied. "That was the first time you had a toothache and had to go to the dentist. Do you remember what I did to help you feel more confident?" "Ah-h-h . . . yeah, I remember. I had to have the tooth pulled, and you stayed right there with me until the dentist was finished,"...
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A Good Recipe
Melanie walked into her father's study and sat down. "I think we made a big mistake coming here," she announced. "Everything's so different. Are you sure we shouldn't have stayed where we were?" Dad smiled. "I'm sure," he said. "After praying a lot about it, Mom and I both sensed it was time to move on to a new ministry. We asked God to show us where we should serve Him, and He showed us the need in this town." "Well, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it," said Melanie sadly. "I know you...
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The Messengers
"I'm tired of getting preached at," complained Matt. "Everywhere I go, I hear, 'Do this; don't do that. Love your brother; obey your mother. Pray every day; watch what you say.'" He chuckled. "I'm a poet, and didn't even know it." "Yes, well, those certainly are inspiring rhymes," teased Dad with a grin, "but please remember that God gives you parents and teachers and pastors to help you." Matt shrugged. "Maybe so, but my teachers and Pastor Ensley aren't perfect, either." He grinned and...
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Time to Talk
"Where's Cindi?" asked Dad as he nodded toward the empty chair at the breakfast table. "It's almost time for devotions." "She's washing her hair," Andy replied. "Her schedule is becoming a problem," said Mom as she set orange juice on the table. "I think we should change our time for devotions. Maybe right after dinner would work well instead of after breakfast." "I don't think Cindi has devotions by herself, either," offered Andy. "I wouldn't be surprised if she . . ." He stopped when he...
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The Riddle
Brian relaxed on the porch swing. "Hey, Mom! Do you know this rhyme?" he asked. "Here's the church. Here's the steeple. Open the door and see all the people." Brian clasped his hands and moved his fingers to demonstrate the words he quoted. Mom laughed. "That's an old one, Brian," she said, "but I still like it. Come over here. I have a riddle for you." Brian slid off of the porch swing and walked down the steps to where his mother was on her knees, working in the flower bed. She wrote in...
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It’s a Choice
"How about another cookie?" suggested Mrs. Brown as Blake helped her straighten the room after Bible club. She held out the plate of snacks. "No, thanks," said Blake absentmindedly. He was thinking about comments his dad had made the night before. "You can go to that old Bible club if you want to, Blake," Dad had said, "but I don't think much of it. If God is really so kind and loving as those Christians say, why would He send anybody to hell? No, I don't want anything to do with a God like...
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All Creatures Great and Small
"I sure don't like spiders, do you?" Shana asked her friend Courtney. A spider had stretched its web across a section of fence in Shana's backyard, and the girls had gone to look at it. "Ugh! No! I hate those things!" Courtney shuddered. "They're creepy." "The web sure is pretty, though," observed Shana as they studied it. All the silvery strands of the beautifully constructed web were connected to make a lacy pattern. Dew drops on the web sparkled in the morning sun. "How do spiders know...
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The Scented Candle
Sharla took a deep breath as she closed the porch door behind her. "I smell coconut," she muttered and hurried into the kitchen. "May I have a piece, Mom?" Mom looked up from fixing a salad and handed Sharla a carrot. "No, thanks." Sharla laughed. "I don't want a carrot. I want a piece of coconut cake." A frown wrinkled Mom's forehead. "Coconut cake? I don't have any." "Coconut pie then?" Sharla opened the oven door. "I smell coconut." Mom grinned and pointed to a lighted candle on the...
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No Doubt About It
Alex sighed as he sat on the beach and watched big waves come in and go out. He was thinking of his friend Jared, who had teased him about going to church and Sunday school and had asked some difficult questions. "What makes you so sure you'll go to heaven?" Jared had wanted to know. "My grandma sings a song about having sins rolled away. Do you sing that one, too?" Jared laughed. "If sins are rolled away, they might roll right back again," he added. "Like when my dad was moving logs the...
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A Puzzling Gift
"Puzzles!" exclaimed Juanita when she and her brother Clay opened the package the mailman had just delivered. "Grandma sent one for each of us." "She sent us a letter, too," replied Clay, holding up an envelope. "Look! It's taped shut and she wrote a message on it. It says, 'Don't open this envelope until you've both worked your puzzle.'" Clay frowned. "I wonder what that's for." Juanita and Clay dumped their puzzle pieces on the dining room table and began putting them together. It kept...
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PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Pasco, WA
- Christian Talk, Children's Topics & Stories
- English
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CBH Ministries
2065 3 Mile Road NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544(616) 647-4500 -
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