FamilyDevotionals

The first time I met Art Linkletter of “Kids Say the Darndest Things” fame, the president of Awana was leading him on a tour of its headquarters. Linkletter remarked on the cleanliness of Awana’s floors and then quipped, “You must not allow spitting!” When Jesus healed the man born blind, he spat on the ground […]

“It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them,” wrote Mark Twain. In heaven, Jesus had the deserved honor and glory of myriads of angelic hosts, yet he entered this world in the humblest of circumstances. No trumpets sounded that night in Bethlehem when God the […]

“Some people are troubled by the things in the Bible they can’t understand,” said Mark Twain. “The things that trouble me are the things I can understand.” This was the case when the religious leaders heard Jesus teach in Jerusalem. Jesus’ teaching threatened their religious tradition, which caused them to plot his murder. Jesus told […]

“God likes it when we do what’s right because that is another reason to go to heaven,” says Colton, 6. Good works are never a reason anyone goes to heaven. Rather, they should be a result of trusting Jesus’ work on the cross to pay for one’s way to heaven. When you’re the beneficiary of […]

“When you have a baby sister, and sometimes you trick her, then God will not like that,” says Victoria, 8. Baby sisters seem to have radar for discovering they’ve been duped — at least my baby sister did. Parents also possess this same radar, as Katelyn, 8, can testify: “I was faking sick, and I […]

“I would slide down a rainbow. I would have a new baby brother. I would pet a lizard,” says Rebekah, 6. I didn’t realize petting a lizard required unlimited power. Move over, NASA. Here comes Michael, 6: “I would like to fly. I want to touch the sun. I want to fly past my house.” […]

“Taking glory for yourself is stealing the glory from God,” says Forrest, 10. We are born thieves. If you doubt this, look at babies throwing a tantrum. We want to be the center of attention. When you see the thief in yourself or the glory grab by others, think of grass and flowers. “All flesh […]

Proverbs 10:14 says, “Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” What does this mean? “If you have too many questions, you may not have any friends,” says Myles, 6. Yes, sometimes it’s better not to know than to ask the wrong question. My friend Donna recalls the time […]

“Because Jesus knew some people were mean,” says Torie, 7. If you’ve ever watched any old western movies, you know that some people enjoy being mean. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Early in his ministry, Jesus performed miracles in Jerusalem. The Bible says, “Many believed in his name when they saw the signs […]

“This story is a good reminder that God has no limits,” says Talia, 12. “The nobleman’s son was far away, but God is not limited by human constraints and healed the boy. God can do what he wants to and nothing is impossible with him.” In his Dirty Harry film entitled “Magnum Force,” actor Clint […]

The key to long friendships is a short memory, says humorist Michael Hodgin. It’s easy to be a friend to someone who likes and respects you. Have you ever considered being a friend to someone who can’t give you anything in return? Or, what about the person whose mere presence gives you a headache? Now […]

“I think God can be everywhere because he can look at everybody from the sky,” says Kate. “God has angels everywhere to help him be everywhere,” says Emilee, 8. Friends, I believe you’re trying to confine God to the space of his creation. Instead, imagine dipping a cup in the ocean. Let the water in […]