Digging for Treasures

Digging for Treasures

“If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom;” Proverbs 2:4-6a (NKJV) by Alycia Morales “Mom, do you know where the shuffle is?” My ten year old, Caleb, came into the living room with dirt smudges across his face. His dad and I chuckled at his question. “I think you mean the shovel,” I said. “Shuffle is when you move your feet back and forth really fast.” I demonstrated shuffling my sock-covered feet on the slippery floor. Caleb laughed. “Yes, a shovel.” “What are you doing?” I asked. “I want to dig for gold in the backyard.” “I’m sorry, but I think we lost the shovel when we moved.” Not deterred,...

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Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones

“…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV) by Alycia Morales http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1346340 “Your Mama is a pea picker! Pea picker! Pea picker!” The kids at school loved to taunt me. They stuck “kick me” notes on my back. They called me all kinds of names. They picked on my mama. Mama told me sticks and stones may break my bones, but words could never hurt me. But they did. Worse than when I broke my leg skiing in fifth grade. My leg healed, but my heart remained broken for many years. Jesus understood what it felt like to be picked on. Many people He met didn’t like Him, said things about His Father and wanted to hurt Him. Jesus understands how much...

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To Be Me, or Not To Be Me?

To Be Me, or Not To Be Me?

by Karen Klein “The Lord looks from heaven; … on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.” Psalm 33:13-15  (NKJV) The talkative kids seemed to be the popular kids in seventh grade.  They had all the fun, of course. I believed they were the happiest.  Typically, I was very quiet and others said I was extremely shy.  I didn’t like being on the outside looking in.  A piece of the action would be nice once in a while. I decided that I was going to be a talker.  Approaching one of my friends, I began a conversation and shared whatever came to my mind.  My confidence rose, but soon crashed. She looked at me and said, “You talk too much.” Unsure of myself, I continued to try to be...

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God Made Me

God Made Me

by Rose Johnson “I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14a (KJV) Five-year-old Marcus was riding home on the school bus, when an older boy who sat near him said, “Your hair is bushy. I bet it was real bushy when you were a baby.” A group of big kids laughed. “What’s bushy?” asked Marcus. The older boys just laughed like something was really funny. Marcus put his head down and didn’t talk the rest of the way home. By the time Marcus got off the bus, he was feeling sad and confused and a little worried about how his hair looked. He told his mother what happened. “I like your hair,” she said, putting her arms around Marcus. “You know, Marcus, sometimes people say thoughtless things that hurt our...

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Producing Character

Producing Character

By Justice Carmon “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 On a bright Saturday morning, my landlady and I went to the Animal Rescue Center to get a new friend for Maxwell, our house cat. “Look at this one! Isn’t she beautiful?” my landlady said. It was a calico with long hair and bright orange patches. But I was wary because the description said she did not like other cats. “I think we need a better friend for Maxwell.” She read the notice and looked...

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Stay on the Right Route

Stay on the Right Route

by Pamela A. Harrison   For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death. Psalm 48:14 “Hi, Dad.” David’s dad looked up as he placed an open map beside his laptop on the table. “Hi, buddy. How was your day?” “Not very good,” David slouched in the chair. “You want to talk about it?” “Todd’s mad at me.” “He is? Why?” David looked at his dad and sighed. “He didn’t do his math assignment last night and he wanted to copy mine.” “What did you do?” “I almost gave my paper to him, but I got a funny feeling in my stomach. So, I told him no. He got mad and said he wasn’t my friend anymore. And to make it worse, Mrs. Wilcox...

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