READ: ROMANS 5; PHILIPPIANS 2:3-11; HEBREWS 13:8 Princess Gayle examined a few documents on her desk as General Blackgrove delivered his opinion. She attempted to appear disinterested. They weren’t exactly allies. “Between you and me, I believe there is sufficient evidence that you are ready to become queen,” the general said in an undertone. “Unfortunately, [...]

READ: PSALM 139:7-12; LUKE 15:1-7; ROMANS 8:31-39 I spread mortar on the next brick. The thick sludge looks like grey toothpaste as I smother it on the porous red block. I set the brick firmly on top of the others and reach impatiently for the next one, scoop another trowel-full of mortar and slap it [...]

READ: MARK 15:37-38; HEBREWS 6:19-20; 10:19-22 "Quick! This way!” Rhys yelled, motioning with his arm for the large group of people to turn down yet another oak-paneled corridor. Everyone followed, all suddenly getting a hopeful feeling that their endless wandering through this wooden labyrinth was finally coming to an end. So, with a new light [...]

READ: PSALM 119:105; JOHN 1:4; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6 Darkness. That was it. No matter which way Aurelia turned, the overwhelming wall of darkness pressed in on her, so thick it seemed smothering. She gasped for air, finding it harder and harder to breathe as she ran madly. She ran as fast as she could, going [...]

READ: ROMANS 12:4-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-27 Mehul balanced the mud-colored bowl in his palms as he stared out at the shore from his small workshop. Down at the ocean’s edge, his friend Sadira was training the young sea dragons, preparing them for the sea riders. Her brother, Taizeen, sat in the sand nearby practicing his [...]

READ: GENESIS 3:1-9; PSALMS 89:9; 107:29; EPHESIANS 2:4-10 Nyoka twisted her scaly blue body around and laughed as she watched the other merpeople, who swam behind her. The chilly ocean water and vibrant coral made it a perfect day for a game of capture the flag. As she continued to maneuver her way through the [...]

READ: MATTHEW 28:20; ROMANS 8:12-25; REVELATION 2:12-17 Just when you think it can’t get any darker, I murmured as I watched over the hidden compound where we had to bring more Believers that morning. A small girl and her older brother were wrapped in a ragged blanket, hungrily eating hot soup. I wished we had [...]

READ: PSALMS 32:1-11; 103:4; JOHN 8:12; ACTS 26:9-18 Blinking open his eyes he looked out into darkness. “How long have I been here?” he asked the darkness. “Innumerable days,” came the melancholy response. “How long shall I stay here?” he asked the darkness. “An insurmountable time,” came the dreary response. “Who shall stay with me?” [...]

READ: LUKE 7:47; JOHN 15:9-15; 1 JOHN 4:19 I don’t know if anyone knows how difficult life is for me, living at the edge of our village. I lost my family long ago and all I can do is spend each day looking for some argoine—the substance we must eat to survive on this planet. [...]

READ: PSALM 23; 1 JOHN 1:1-5 Chester turned his face to the sun one last time before climbing into the truck. Though the sun hung low in the sky like always, not providing much warmth, Chester knew he would miss it almost as much as he would miss his family. He was leaving all light [...]