Check out the “Weekly Memory Munchie” with free printable scripture note cards below to cut out and memorize. Click the download button, print, and post on your mirror, fridge, around your house, or add to lunch boxes. Keep an eye out for next week’s “Weekly Memory Munchie” that we will be posting each Sunday .
*Need a pop of prayer? Head on over to our Prayer Pop page here and leave a comment in the section below. We would love to lift you up!
Jessy looks for Peyton at the bus stop on her first day of junior high. Peyton and Jessy have been friends since kindergarten, but Peyton spent most of the summer making new friends at soccer camp. Jessy boards the bus hoping to see her friend on the first day of school. Truth is, Jessy hasn’t heard much from Peyton since she returned from camp.
At school, Jessy closes her locker and turns to head to her 1st-period class. She sees her friend, Peyton, walking toward her with a large group of girls. Jessy waves and says, “Hey Peyton,” loudly. Jessy knows that Peyton can hear her, but she walks by as if she doesn’t even know her. A lump forms in Jessy’s throat as a rock sinks in her stomach. She fights back tears as she doesn’t want to be seen crying on her first day of school in the middle of the hallway.
At lunch, Jessy again sees Peyton with the same group of girls sitting at a large table in the middle of the cafeteria. She walks up to Peyton this time so that she is standing on her right side. She has to hear me now, she thinks. “Hey Peyton, can I sit with you?” Jessy asks. Peyton turns toward her, looks her up and down, then returns to talking to her new friends as if Jessy isn’t even standing there. This time the tears cannot be held back. Jessy slams her lunch tray down in front of Peyton and runs off crying. She can’t understand what happened to her friend and why she is acting like this.
When the last bell of the day rings, dismissing the kids from school, Jessy can’t wait to get home. She rushes to her locker, grabs her backpack, and moves quickly to the school bus pickup. When Jessy boards the bus, to her surprise, she sees Peyton sitting by herself toward the back of the bus. Jessy really wants to ask her old friend what is going on. She begins to make her way toward Peyton who then slides to the end of her seat so that Jessy can’t sit next to her. Peyton looks out the window as if Jessy doesn’t exist. Giving up, Jessy sits in her own seat staring out her own window in disbelief. I can’t believe Peyton cares more about being cool than she does about our friendship, she thinks.
After getting off the bus, Jessy rushes home. “Jessy!” she hears from behind her. Through misty eyes, she sees Peyton rushing toward her. Surprised, she says, “Peyton? You can see me? I thought I was a ghost or something.”
“I’m so sorry, Jessy. I don’t know what came over me. I’ve been so wrapped up in trying to be cool with these new friends I made at soccer camp this summer that I thought they wouldn’t like me if they knew we were friends. But I’m so sorry, Jessy, I don’t care what anyone else thinks. What’s really important is the friendship we have. And besides, if they get to know you, I know they’ll love you. If they don’t, their loss! I really do apologize. I haven’t been a very good friend lately. If you acted like I have, I would be just as hurt. Still friends forever?” “Forever!” Jessy replies.
Jessy and Peyton embrace and everything seems like it is back to normal, the way it should be. The next day at school, Peyton introduces Jessy to all of her new friends. Jessy sits with them at lunch every day going forward.
Weekly Bible Verse: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. -John 15:13 NIV
Note to nibble: Be kind to one another and don’t get so wrapped up in yourself that you forget about others.
Maybe you need this reminder as much as we do right now…“I keep my eyes always on the Lord…” It’s when our eyes stray and our minds wander, that life can easily become complicated. With our thoughts fixed on our Heavenly Father, however, we can experience a peace only He can give, no matter what obstacle may try to send us on a detour. By placing our trust in God, we will not be shaken.
Check out our free “his and hers” phone screen wallpapers below and keep your focus always on the One who has everything in His hands.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. -Psalms 16:8 NIV
Whether you are in your lowest valley, on your highest peak, or hanging somewhere in between, we’re here to pray for you. Prayer is impactful! Check out our Prayer Pop page here. Leave a comment on that page in the section below so we can be sure to raise you up in love!
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. -1 John 5:14 NIV
*And don’t forget to take a gander at our Tangible Takeout here.
Today’s “Bite-sized Bible Bit” is about the importance of living out the Lord’s directions. We hope you listen and find some encouragement for the week!
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. -Psalm 119:9 NIV
There’s listening and there’s doing. So, dig deep into the Word, keep your mind and heart open to Truth, discern it, and then DO—LIVE what the Lord says. That’s key.
…”Because blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” -Luke 11:28 NIV
*Need a pop of prayer? Head on over to our Prayer Pop page and leave a comment in the section below. We would love to lift you up!
Need a new spot to jot your thoughts about your daily Bible reading? Connect with God in your quiet time while sipping a lovely cuppa Java and using our free printable “Jesus, Jottings, and Java” page. Click download below and start your morning off right, in prayer and in His presence.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -Psalm 16:11 NIV
*Need a pop of prayer? Head on over to our Prayer Pop page here and leave a comment in the section below. We would love to lift you up!
**For our other “tangible takeout”, take a peek here.
Check out the “Weekly Memory Munchie” with free printable scripture note cards below to cut out and memorize. Click the download button, print, and post on your mirror, fridge, around your house, or add to lunch boxes. Keep an eye out for next week’s “Weekly Memory Munchie” that we will be posting each Sunday .
*Need a pop of prayer? Head on over to our Prayer Pop page here and leave a comment in the section below. We would love to lift you up!
On the drive home from church, Josie’s mom says she needs her to try on the new dress she made for her end-of-the-school-year dance. Her older sisters, the triplets, or “gruesome 3-some” as she sometimes calls them, grumble under their breath as if angry and jealous that Josie’s mom made her a beautiful dress of many colors for the dance.
“Girls, remember, I made you three dresses for your end-of-year seventh grade dance too,” mom reminds them. The three girls mumble their “oh yeahs” and “okays” as they stare at their shifting feet. Josie can tell they are still a little upset, but she focuses her energy on the excitement she feels inside instead of the negativity inside their family minivan.
The following weekend, Josie goes to the mall with her sisters to help them pick out their dresses for the dance. One by one, they try on each dress from the pile they manage to bring into the dressing room. Madison tells Josie to have some fun and try on the dresses with them. Sadie hands her a ravishing blue dress that Brooklyn says really brings out her eyes. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, the triplets tell Josie how stunning she looks.
“I think you should wear this dress to the dance,” says Sadie.
“Absolutely,” replies Madison, “let’s go pick out some shoes!”
“I’ll do your hair and makeup,” Brooklyn adds. “You’re going to win the best dress contest with this one for sure!”
“I just don’t know,” Josie responds. “Mom spent a lot of time making me a beautiful dress for the dance. I’m just here for you guys.”
“Trust us,” the triplets state in unison.
“Keep it at school and change once you get to the dance. Mom will never know.”
At bedtime, the triplets plot in their room how they are going to lure Josie to the bathroom and ruin her new blue dress. Not only will Mom not know she’s going to change dresses, but they will destroy her chance at winning the best dress contest. The “gruesome 3-some” giggle themselves to sleep at the thought of driving a wedge between Josie and their mom while making her look like a fool in front of the whole school.
The night of the dance, Josie changes out of the dress her mom made her and puts the hand-made dress in her locker. Wearing the blue dress her sisters talked her into wearing, she makes her way to sign up for the best dress contest. Sadie stops Josie in the hall and says Madison and Brooklyn need help with their dresses in the bathroom. The three sisters push her into an open stall, throw fruit punch on her dress, and rip the sleeves off of it. “Good luck at the contest,” they say, laughing as they exit the bathroom.
Crying in front of the mirror, Josie fixes her hair and wipes the streaked makeup from under her eyes and cheeks. Just then, her best friend Katie walks into the bathroom. Josie tells her what happened. Katie runs to Josie’s locker and grabs the colorful dress her mom made her. She returns it to the bathroom where Josie changes into what she thinks she should have worn in the first place. “I can’t believe I let them talk me into changing out of the dress my mom worked so hard to make and then they treated me like that,” Josie said through welled-up eyes.
“That’s gotta really hurt coming from your sisters, Josie. Just know, they are totally jealous of this gorgeous dress. It’s one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen, with such soft pastel colors. I can’t believe your mom made this,” Katie encourages. “Now let’s go sign you up for that dress contest. I guarantee you’re going to win! And let’s make sure we turn this night into one we won’t forget!”
“Thank you, Katie! I don’t know what I would have done tonight without your help.”
Weekly Bible Verse: Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. -1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Note to Nibble: The plans of the noble will always win out in the end.
Spring has definitely sprung in our neck of the woods. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping songs of new life. Somehow, the month of April is flying by. But, it’s still spring for couple more months!
So, here is our fun and fresh take on Scattegories for spring to keep your family close and playing together. Just click download below, and print your free printable for family game night!
**Check out our other free tangible takeout here
Today’s “Bite-sized Bible Bit” is about your forever friend, Jesus. We hope you listen and find some encouragement for the week!
You are my friends if you do what I command.
-John 15:14 NIV
No matter what you are facing, Jesus is right there with you. He is the One friend you can call on and count on through thick and thin, forever and always.
*Need a pop of prayer? Head on over to our Prayer Pop page here and leave a comment in the section below. We would love to lift you up!
PhillFamily Ministries 
