“Only if you pay me”: What a Five-Year-Old Can Teach Us About Kids, Work, and Money

“Only if you pay me.”

Manuela met her mother, Evelyn’s eyes as she spoke. Evelyn gaped back at her five-year-old daughter, astonished.

“You were so excited to do your summer play book last week, Manuela!” Evelyn pleaded. 

“Why don’t you want to do it anymore? You can get the sticker at the end if you finish.”

“It’s not a playbook. It’s work,” insisted the rising kindergartener. “You paid me to do the letters and numbers before! I should get paid for this workbook. It’s work.”

On this point, Manuela was correct. The book was meant to keep kids academically engaged over the summer, but she wasn’t fooled by the “play” label. Now her parents were stuck. Last week, they had paid her a quarter when she didn’t want to do the workbook. This week, she wanted the same treatment. Manuela had learned the value of her work—just not in the way her parents hoped.

If you have young children, this scenario probably feels familiar. Many parents deeply want to teach their kids financial basics, but don’t know where to start.

It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Psalm 127:2

The lie of anxiety is that something “out there” will give us the calm we crave. So we
push ourselves, keep searching, try harder. Have you noticed this feeling during the
holidays, especially? I have.

But this one phrase in Psalm 127:2 changes everything: “For God gives rest.” This kind
of rest isn’t about a lack of physical activity. God encourages us to enjoy his good gifts,
be productive, and take steps of obedience. Instead, this is about resting from anxiety-
based striving that exhausts us and leaves us feeling empty.

Anxiety tells us having inner peace is about what we can get. The truth is, inner peace
is something only God can give. What our souls truly need can’t be bought or built;
it can only be bestowed on us by a good God who invites us into grace.

God, give me the wisdom to know when anxiety is pushing me.

“For unto us a Child is born” Isaiah 9:6

Has your family started planning meals for your holiday get-togethers? If a charcuterie board is somewhere in your planning, you’re so on-trend.

Three hundred years ago, a great deal of thought was put into meals for a man who was so laser-focused on his work that for almost three weeks, he refused everything prepared for him. He barely slept. Those who brought him food returned many hours later to find it untouched. Day after day. 

Messiah

The task with which the man was so obsessed? Committing to paper what the Holy Spirit was moving him to pen, a masterpiece we now know as Handel’s Messiah. The motivation that kept George Frideric Handel up at night—furiously scribbling so he didn’t miss any nuance—was rooted in what had kept Isaiah the prophet up all night 2,400 years earlier—a voice from heaven speaking into the darkness: 

For unto us a Child is born, 

Unto us a Son is given; 

And the government will be upon His shoulder, 

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As Thanksgiving draws near, we’re reminded that gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s a posture of the heart. Whether we’re walking through seasons of abundance or longing, God’s presence remains our constant. This is a time to pause, reflect, and recognize the quiet ways He’s been faithful. Even in the waiting, there is reason to give thanks. 

From stories of surrender to reflections on joy and spiritual renewal, each title offers a pathway to deeper trust in God. This Thanksgiving, we invite you to explore books that help you think differently, live more intentionally, and embrace joy that lasts. May your heart be lifted and your spirit renewed as you discover the beauty of God’s provision. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us.

The Homemade Pie Cookbook

With tasty recipes, gorgeous photos, and clear instructions that take you step-by-step through the entire process of baking the perfect pie, The Homemade Pie Cookbook will convince you that you can bake the pies you grew up loving–as well as many more you always wanted to try.

Maybe best of all–every recipe has a photo.

Prayer Journal for Women

An elegant, keepsake-quality journal perfect for your daily quiet time notebook for you to record and remember your prayers and conversations with God.

Fight back against the lie of shame with truth from God’s Word; reclaim your self-worth, and silence the enemy’s accusations.

Navigating the relentless attacks of the devil can be challenging, especially when it comes to the battleground of our self-­worth.

Guilt vs Shame

In my work as a therapist, I often emphasize the crucial distinction between guilt and shame. Guilt addresses our behavior; its primary purpose is to convict and motivate us to positive change. Shame unfairly condemns us as a person, and its purpose is to accuse and point fingers at us.

Guilt says, “I failed at something.” Shame maliciously whispers, “I am a failure.”

Guilt admits, “I made a mistake.” Shame harshly declares, “I am a mistake.”

One day, in my office, I began explaining the difference between guilt and shame to a client. I started writing the word “shame” on the large whiteboard mounted in the middle of my wall. 

As I began to write, I paused when I realized the first two letters of “shame” are S-­H, which sounds like “Shh!” That’s what we say when we want to keep something hidden or don’t want our words to be heard by others.

Learn how one Christian parent handled food hoarding with grace, creativity, and patience—offering hope to others navigating similar challenges.

I first noticed the smell. 

Then I saw the ants. Lots and lots of ants. I had a pretty good idea who the culprit was and why he did it. Joseph had not lived with me as a foster child for long, but long enough for me to learn he hoarded food. He was one my first hoarders, but he wouldn’t be my last.

Food hoarding is not unusual in children who have lived with food insecurity. 

“I didn’t do it,” he lied to my face.

When a Child Acts Up

I don’t have a lot of rules in my house, but not lying to me is at the top of the list. Even more, the act of taking food felt like he was stealing from me. Again, I don’t have a lot of rules, but not stealing from me is also near the top of the list. 

I faced a dilemma. Joseph was engaging in behavior that could not continue. It had to stop right away, or the ants were going to claim my house as their own.

Discover how understanding the difference between formal and functional theology can transform your faith. Explore the practical power of theology in everyday life.

I’ve been teaching the Bible for many years, but I’m finally near the very end of my doctoral program at Denver seminary. Let me tell you, I’ve had so many aha moments there that I wish there was an emoji of a saucer-­eyed middle-­aged chick with the caption, “WOW!” In fact, I almost fell out of my seat on the first day of class when I learned the difference between formal theology and functional theology!

Two Theologies

Here’s the deal: Most Christians have two theologies. We have a “formal theology,” which could be loosely described as the statement of faith that hangs in our church foyer or is written on their website. 

On the other hand, our “functional theology” is how we live our everyday lives when we’re not worshiping in church or a Christ-centered small group or attending a Christian concert or faith-based event. And the areas where they don’t overlap are seedbeds of hypocrisy. Because if what we believe to be true of God doesn’t change the shape of our heart and how we live our lives, then it’s simply a conceptual idea.

Learn how to fight for your teens in prayer, not against them—discover purpose, peace, and the power of partnering with God in parenting.

One thing I know about having children who are out on their own, or are about to be, is that the way we parent changes, and that brings with it all kinds of emotions . . . good and bad. The teenage years are an emotional roller coaster. They can bring many opportunities for sin, negative experiences in friendships, and challenges to our efforts to help our children follow God and view the world through the lens of His Word.

Teens face temptations today that their parents never had to face, at least not in the same way, and this can cause some parents to shut down and take a hands-off approach, feeling a sense of loss and lack of purpose.

Our Purpose Remains the Same

Yes, things change. But while our role might have changed, our purpose has not. Not if we know what our real in-Christ purpose is as a mom.

What if there were a way to learn to fight for our teenagers instead of against them?

Doubt isn’t the enemy of faith—it’s an invitation to know God more. The more time we spend with Him, the more we believe.

If you’ve ever had the joy of having a ride-­or-­die friend, you know the more time we spend with someone, the more stuff we go through together, the more closely knit we become. The same is true of God. 

The More Time We Spend With God, The Less We Doubt Him

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the story of a conversation Jesus and his disciples had as they came to the region of Caesarea Philippi. On the dusty roads in the foothills, Jesus asks them a direct question, apparently without a word of preamble or warning: “Who do the crowds say I am?” (Luke 9:18).

The disciples’ answer seems remarkably casual, as if Jesus had asked them who everyone thinks the next James Bond will be. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life” (v. 19).

Jesus’s next question must have cut the atmosphere with a knife. Did he pause, letting the dust settle at his feet before continuing?

Discover 6 books to inspire a love for God in you and your kids! From devotionals to habit-builders, make faith fun and simple for the whole family.

Talking to kids about faith can feel like walking a tightrope—how do you explain something so big, so personal, in a way that clicks for them? Every parent wants to pass along values that matter, but finding the right words or moments to connect can be tricky.

Whether it’s answering their big questions (“Why can’t we see God?”), weaving faith into everyday routines, or just creating space for meaningful conversations, it’s a journey that takes patience and a little creativity. That’s where a good book can step in like a trusted friend—offering stories, activities, or simple ideas to spark those lightbulb moments for both you and your kids.

Today, we’re excited to share 6 of our recent favorite books that dive into faith for the whole family. These aren’t just books to read and shelve—they’re tools to bring you closer together. From interactive devotionals that turn faith into a fun, shared adventure, to guides that break down small, doable changes to make spirituality a natural part of your day, this list has something for everyone.