Toasty Marshmallow Hearts by Ashley Karges Apr 19, 2026 Luke 24:13-35     -Jesus wants to be part of your conversation. -Open your heart to recognize the presence of Jesus around you.   Malulabelle snuggled into her favorite pink camping chair, joining a circle of friends around the campfire. The night sky was a dome of black, dotted with twinkly stars.   “Who has the first ghost story?” Gracie turned on the flashlight.   “It was a dark and stormy night…” George began.   Malu

Little Questions, Big Faith by Ashley Karges Apr 12, 2026 John 20:19-31      - Faith can grow by spending time in prayer with Jesus. - Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.   Malulabelle looked up into the clear night sky. The moon beamed a brilliant blanket of light over the land. To Malulabelle, the moon looked like a proud leader shining light onto loved ones. It made her giggle. She wanted to be shined on too.   Malulabelle collected her journal and pen,

Little Birds by Ashley Karges Apr 5, 2026 Matthew 28:1-10   - As children of God, we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. - God takes care of every detail. We simply need to be present to Him, and open to receive His love and grace. Malulabelle bound through the yard with her fluffy pup, Coconut.   “Watch this, Coconut!” She whirled around in a cartwheel.   “Ruff!” Coconut lunged and leaped behind her, then wiggled and wagged. He chased a pair of squirrels up a tree

Jesus, Make Me Brave by Ashley Karges Mar 29, 2026 Matthew 26:14-27:66       - Jesus did brave things for you. He loves you and is with you always. - There are many ways to share Jesus with others. Don’t be afraid – be brave!     Malulabelle flew up the church steps. It was a crisp and sunny Sunday morning. She slung her favorite church purse over her shoulder and heaved open the wooden doors. Creeek!   Just inside, someone caught her eye. A man with tousled hair and wrinkled

Little Chicks by Ashley Karges Mar 22, 2026 John 11:1-45                 - God does not rush. He gives us the right amount of time to accomplish his glory. - Only God can see the overall picture of our lives. We can trust in His perfect timing.   Malulabelle dragged home after school on Friday. Unlike her usual excitement for the weekend, she felt unsettled.   For days, her class shared responsibilities on a chick-hatching project. Malulabelle and her friends turned eggs in t

Muddy Buddies by Ashley Karges Mar 15, 2026 John 9:1-41                          - God can turn the “mud” in our lives into something beautiful. - Ask God to open your eyes to the ways he is working in the “muddiness” of your life.   Malulabelle hopped on her pink bike and pedaled up the hill. Ring, ring!  She loved her little bike bell. “Let’s go, Coconut!”   “Ruff!” Coconut, her little fluffy pup, pounced alongside Malulabelle. He had a little bell, too, on his collar.   Ma

Little Hike by Ashley Karges Mar 8, 2026 John 4:5-42                          -We are beloved sons and daughters of God. We are known and loved.   - Jesus gives us glimpses of his glory.   Malulabelle tromped along the treelined trail with a smile. Her favorite pink hiking boots kept a slow and steady pace. Clip, clop. Clip, clop.   The fresh pine air brightened her spirits. She hummed a tune as she stepped along. She daydreamed about her future and shared her happy heart wit

Sunshine by Ashley Karges Mar 1, 2026 Matthew 17:1-9                                 Themes: - Seek renewal in the Lord and be energized with His love. - Energy from the Son is like energy from the sun!   Malulabelle meandered along the winding walkway through the park. The sun gleamed in a bright sky. It gave her a shadow that made her giggle. “I have a tagalong buddy." She raised her arms. She jumped up high. She giggled again.   Malulabelle thought about her week, and all

Snowdrops by Ashley Karges Feb 22, 2026 Matthew 4:1-11                                 - God speaks to us in clear and simple ways. - When we feel stuck in negative thoughts, surrender to Him. He is waiting with love.   Malulabelle peeked out the window. A fresh, thin blanket of snow topped the ground. The sky was cloudy. It matched Malulabelle’s heart.   An argument with her friend, June, had her feeling sad and dreary. Malulabelle shared her thoughts with Jesus. “Jesus, I d

With Practice by Ashley Karges Feb 15, 2026 Matthew 5:17-37                               Themes: - The Ten Commandments help us to live like Jesus. - Ask for God’s guidance to practice them each day.   Malulabelle settled into her desk chair at home. “I have a big spelling test this week, Coconut.”   Coconut, Malulabelle’s fluffy pup, peered from under the desk. “Ruff!” He wiggled and wagged, then nestled at her feet. He was the perfect study partner.   Malulabelle wrote the

Little Chefs by Ashley Karges Feb 8, 2026 Matthew 5:13-16                               Themes: - Jesus calls us Salt of the Earth and Light of the World. -We are meant to season  and shine  with God’s love.   Malulabelle and her friend, Elly, burst into the kitchen. Malulabelle gathered baking ingredients. Elly reached for aprons.   “I love chocolate chip cookies.” Malulabelle scooped and measured.   “Me, too!” Elly whisked and stirred.   The girls mixed and rolled the soft

Malulabelle's Map by Ashley Karges Feb 1, 2026 Matthew 5:1-12a                             Themes: - Jesus guides us on a path to holiness. - His way leads us toward Heaven and gives meaning to our lives.   Malulabelle unfolded a large map she found at home. She loved the light greens, blues and tans covering the page. She traced her finger along the lines that were roads. She searched for lakes and rivers. Some of the towns had funny names that made her giggle.   “This is wh

The Sunrise by Ashley Karges Jan 25, 2026 Matthew 4:12-23                               Themes: - God’s hope and goodness is all around us, even in darkness. - God shines a light of love and peace onto everything He touches. Malulabelle sat in front of the window with a cup of hot cocoa. It was early morning. The sky was still dark, like a black, inky canvas. Today was going to be a full day. Malulabelle had a spelling test in the morning, and a math test in the afternoon. Sh

The Snowy Walk by Ashley Karges Jan 18, 2026 John 1: 29-34                       Themes: -How do you greet Jesus? -Look for ways God meets you in moments of your day.   Malulabelle and her fluffy pup, Coconut, strolled down the street on a winter walk. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. They made tracks and paw prints in wavy lines. “Coconut, you blend in with all the white!” Malulabelle giggled. “Ruff!” Coconut wiggled and wagged and tromped through a small drift. An icy wind whirled.

Humble Hearts by Ashley Karges Jan 11, 2026 Matthew 3:3-17                                 Themes: - God works through those who are humble in heart. - When God calls us to lead, he will equip us with what we need in the moment.   Malulabelle gathered in the music room with the children’s choir before church. Today was special, and there was a buzz in the air. Sophie showed off a new necklace. Lauren wore her hair in braids. Jack and Connor had shiny new shoes. For weeks, the

A Glimmering Star by Ashley Karges Jan 4, 2026 Matthew 2:1-12                                 Themes: - When we lead others to Jesus, we are like the bright, guiding star over the manger. - Reflect on your day. Who was your guiding star? Who were you a guiding star to?   Malulabelle snuggled into her comfy bed. She wore her new Christmas pajamas. She reached her arms wide in a big stretch, and settled in. “Hop on up, Coconut.” “Ruff!” Coconut, her fluffy pup, wiggled and wagg

The Sweetness of Peace by Ashley Karges Dec 28, 2025 Matthew 2:13-25, 19-23                                 Themes: - Trust fully in God, even if you feel worried. -Looking for moments of peace in stressful situations can help you feel God’s presence. Malulabelle tied on her roller skates. Today she was skating at the rink with friends for a birthday party. “Let’s go, Malulabelle!” “Here I come! I’m going to try to skate backwards. Want to join me?” “Yeah, let’s do it!” The f

A Gift for Jesus by Ashley Karges Dec 21, 2025 Matthew 1:18-24                                              Themes: - How can we say “yes” like Mary and Joseph? -Jesus is our one true gift.   It was Malulabelle’s favorite time of year – Christmas! She loved everything about this season – frosty windows, cinnamon sticks in her cider, and the way snow under her feet was powdery one day and crunchy the next. And, most of all, she loved picking out the perfect presents for her fa

Positive Friends by Ashley Karges Dec 14, 2025 Matthew 11: 2-11                                              Themes: - The best kinds of friends in our lives are those who lift us up. - Surround yourself with friends who have the peace of Jesus in their heart.   Malulabelle sat at her desk to write her English assignment. Write a paragraph describing a person who is a positive influence in your life. The first person that came to Malulabelle’s mind was her friend, Gracie. “Th

Hearts on Fire for Jesus by Ashley Karges Dec 7, 2025 Matthew 3:1-12   Themes: - Jesus wants our hearts to be on fire for Him. - Learn about Jesus and share what you know with a friend.   Malulabelle reached for the children’s bible from her shelf. “There are some good stories in this book!” Malulabelle and her friend, June, sat on the rug to read.  Colorful pictures brought each bible story to life. They flipped through the pages, stopping at their favorite illustrations. T