When the boys showed up in Mr. Jones' melon patch, they didn't get melons. They got caught!

'Up to my house, boys.' Mr Jones ordered. He and his helpers marched the boys to the farm house and led them into the kitchen.

'You have a phone?' one boy asked.

'Why? You want to call your parents?'

'Are you going to turn us over to the police?'

Mr. Jones studied the frightened boys. 'Do you think that would be the right thing to do?'

No answer. Then one boy asked, 'What are you going to do to us?'

'I'm going to sit you around this table. And Mrs. Jones is going to give you a treat.'

A smiling Mrs. Jones plunked a huge platter of freshly cut watermelon in front of the boys. 'Boys, eat all you want,' she said.

When they finished, Mr. Jones said, 'Any time you want watermelon, come and ask. You can have it free. Now, I want each of you to promise that before you decide to steal again, you'll first ask yourselves the question, 'Do I want to be turned over to the police?'

Each of the boys promised.

'Okay,' Mr. Jones said, 'Off home with you. I won't tell your parents. But I think you should.'

Jake Peters, Winnipeg, Canada

Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank You so much for Your mercy and forgiveness and loving kindness. Amen.

'I don't like it when Dad is away,' Billy complained. 'I wish he would phone so I could hear his voice. Or even send us a card.'

'He'll be home in a few days,' Mom reminded Billy.

'The house feels empty without him.' Billy went on as if he hadn't heard Mom. 'I feel empty.'

'I'll make you a special breakfast, Billy,' Mom said. 'Your favorite. French toast. As many slices as you want.'

Billy ate five slices. He patted his stomach. 'Boy, do I feel full.' Then he remembered Dad was away. 'But I still feel empty, too.'

'I don't think more toast will help.' As Mom spoke, the telephone rang. She smiled. 'Maybe this call will fill you up.'

Sure enough, it was Dad. After he spoke to Billy, Billy felt much better.'It's like the Bible verse we are memorizing,' Mom said. 'You know. Luke 4:4 where Jesus said, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' We need to read God's Word and speak with Him every day.'

Prayer: Dear God, thank You that I can read Your word and speak to You every day. Amen.

Everybody in the class knew the answer. Everybody spoke it out at the same time.

'One at a time, please. I can only hear you, one at a time.' The teacher smiled. 'Only God can hear every voice at once and still understand.'

Billy thought about that on the way home from school. At home, he asked his Mom. 'Does God really hear me when I pray?'

Mom took her Bible and read Matthew 6:6,7. 'I don't know how God does it, but He definitely hears every person who closes the door and speaks to God in private prayer,' she said. 'Maybe it's like when we phone Aunt Avril. We're here in Canada and she's in Scotland. Millions of people are in both countries. Yet, through the telephone line, I myself can speak to Aunt Avril herself.'

'I guess God doesn't need telephone lines,' Billy answered. 'I'm glad He hears me when I shut my door and pray.'

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You hear and answer prayer. Help me to 'shut the door and pray' every day. Amen.

When Jesus came to Zacchaeus' house, Zacchaeus did most of the talking. 'I've made a lot of money,' he told Jesus, 'and I want to give half of it to the poor. Also, if I've cheated people, I will give them back four times the amount.'

Zacchaeus knew that he had done wrong. Just being with Jesus made him want to put things right.

Other people didn't like Zacchaeus because of the way he had made his money. But Jesus was pleased. Jesus blessed Zacchaeus. He said, 'Today, salvation has come to your house.'

When Jesus comes into a house - or a heart - He always brings blessing.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for bringing blessings like forgiveness and new beginnings to all who receive you. Amen.

Why would a grown-up man climb a tree? To see better? That's why Zacchaeus climbed a tree the day Jesus came to his town. A short man, he couldn't see over the heads of the crowd. So up the tree he climbed.

Maybe Zacchaeus thought nobody would spot him up there, hidden amongst the leafy branches. Maybe Zacchaeus thought because he was a tax collector, he would not be welcome in the crowd. Up the tree, he was alone and unseen.

But the strangest thing happened. Jesus stopped, right under the very tree where Zacchaeus was perched. Jesus called out. Jesus knew the little man was up there. Jesus even knew his name. And Jesus wanted to come to his house.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You know where I am and You know my name - and You want to be Lord in my life. Amen.