Barnyard Bible Stories

06/02/2026

Story 305. There was a sad day on the farm. Tina the goat’s grandpa died.

“Mom, I don’t know what to do. I want to make Tina feel better, but I don’t know how,” said Sam.

“Sometimes there really isn’t anything to do or say to make someone feel better. Sometimes you just go cry with them. Remember Job. He had three friends come to visit him so they could comfort him. The Bible says, ‘When they saw him from a distance, they
could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.’ (Job 2:12) They sat and cried with Job for seven days. The Bible says, ‘No one said a
word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.’ (Job 2:13) Just go cry with Tina. Sometimes that is all you can do,” said Gertrude.

Song: The Lord’s Army
Scripture Reading: Job 2:12
Question: Did his friend say a lot to Job? (No

06/02/2026

Hard Choices

It would be nice if there were always a good choice and a bad one. The problem is that often all the options available are difficult. There isn’t always a painless option. The Bible doesn’t promise a painless option. Paul was assaulted to the point that the assailants thought he was dead. He was able to get up and continue to preach. Just after that he told a congregation, “…Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”. (Acts 14:22) We can evaluate our options but should understand that the outcome could still be difficult. First, pray about it and the amount of prayer should be proportional to the jeopardy involved. Second, is one of the options more righteous than the other? Joy and abundance come from following God and doing the right thing. Paul wrote, “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (I Timothy 6:11) Third, is one option more beneficial than the other or less difficult? It is okay to try to find the best option for you and your family. We need to understand that God does not promise us an easy option and that sometimes all the options will be difficult. Sometimes we have to prayerfully pick one and do our best. Luckily in the best and worst of circumstances the believer has an almighty God to help. By Douglas Graham

06/01/2026

Story 304. One evening as Scott was getting ready for bed, he noticed that he was itching in several spots. He brushed his fur so he could see under the itchy spots
and there were little red bumps. He showed his mom and she said, “Oh no. It looks like you have a case of the Chicken Pox”.

“Can you make it go away?” asked Scott.

“Well, it will go away in a few days but until it does, the itching will get worse,” said Gertrude as she dabbed Calamine lotion on Scotts spots.

“Oh, I hate the itching, This is going to drive me crazy,” said Scott.

“You’ll be all right. Remember Job. After he lost all of his animals and all of his children, Job was still faithful to God. When Satan came to see God he said, “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5
But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face’. (Job 2:4) God knew Job’s heart and He knew that Job would be faithful, but once again He said, ‘Very well,
then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.’ (Job 2:6) Satan gave Job painful sores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. His wife wasn’t faithful and told Job to curse God and die, but Job
stayed faithful. Job survived much worse sores than Chicken Pox and just like Job, you will get through this too,” said Gertrude.

Song: The Wise Man
Scripture Reading: Job 2:9-10
Question: Was Jobs wife helpful? (No, she was evil and made Job feel
worse

06/01/2026

Will You Look Under My Bed?

Children can sometimes be afraid of things that aren’t there. They may ask an adult to look under their bed or in a closet. They can have very real fear over a monster that they only imagine. Our fears can also be just as unfounded. Anytime we are afraid of what might happen, we have an imaginary fear. Imaginary fears can be helpful in one respect. They can help direct our prayer life. Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all [d]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”. (Philippians 4:6) The problem is fear can be paralyzing. Unfounded fears can be destructive in our lives. King David wrote, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.”. (Psalms 56:3-4) In the book of Revelation, there is a peculiar warning. It says, “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and [brimstone, which is the second death.”. (Revelation 21:8) Cowardice may seem harmless but the reality is that each one of us was created with purpose to accomplish good. If we are afraid, we can’t make the world better. The only thing we are asked to fear is God. Paul wrote, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”. (Philippians 2:12) God asks us to understand the jeopardies involved in our spiritual walk. He also says that we don’t have to have a paralyzing fear even of Him. John wrote, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.”. (I John 4:18) Love and trust can insulate us from the possible negative outcomes around us. We don’t have to be afraid.
By Douglas Graham

05/31/2026

Story 303. Mary was walking back from the feed trough when splat, a pigeon used the bathroom right on her head.

“Yuck,” she screamed.

She continued walking home when she stepped into a hole and fell right in a mud puddle.

“What else can happen?” yelled Mary as she stood back up.

Once again she started back on her trip to the barn when Farmer Smith accidently dropped some loose hay out of the hay loft in the top of the barn. The hay went all over Mary and stuck to her because of the mud from the mud puddle.

“Mom! This is terrible. I have been pooped on, I fell in the mud and then I was covered with hay. Why? Why would all these things happen at once,” said Mary.

“It’s an opportunity to teach about God. One of the most important lessons we teach is how to make it through hard times. It is like the man named Job in the Bible. He was a great man. He was righteous and upright. Satan only thought Job was good because
God blessed him. God knew this wasn’t true but God allowed Satan to take away Job’s blessings. God said, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a fin-
ger." (Job 1:12) One day a messenger came to Job and told him that robbers had come and attacked his oxen. They killed his servants and stole all his oxen. A little while later another servant came and told him that three more groups of thieves came and took all his camels and killed more servants. Finally, a servant came and told him that his sons and daughters were having a party and the wall of the building they were in fell on them. They all died. Job had the
worst day ever, but he was still faithful to God. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be
praised. (Job 1:20) On the worst day of his life, Job praised God. In that, Job taught us about being faithful. When we have hard days, we can teach others about being faithful,” said Gertrude.

Song: Jesus Loves The Little Children
Scripture Reading: Job 1:18
Question: Did Job love God even on the worst day of his life? (yes)

05/31/2026

Better

A few years ago our two-year old had strep throat. He was achy and miserable. The problem with being sick as a two-year old is that you don’t really have a lot of history of having illness and getting better. It would be hard for him to see past the struggle and realize he will soon be playing and eating again. Seeing past the moment is difficult for toddlers but it can also be difficult for adults. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is, “…a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.”, (Ecclesiastes 3:4) Struggles can often make us shortsighted. If we are not careful the darkness of the moment can eclipse our hope. In a time of difficulty King David wrote, “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.”. (Psalms 62:5-7) During the darkest times, hold onto your hope. During the darkest times, realize God is our rock. Even though it may seem impossible, there will be laughter again. Even though grief may leave you forever changed, your breath shows you that God still has purpose for you. Even on the other side of sorrow, there will be moments of joy.

By Douglas Graham

05/30/2026

Apples and Oranges

Apples and Oranges are both real tasty. Their tastes are different. Apples and oranges are sweet and both are a little sour. The acidity of the orange’s citrus makes the orange different from the apple. Even with their similarities, they are very different. We are told by Jesus not to judge others. Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!”. (Matthew 7:1-5) People have different traumas and different advantages and disadvantages. These traumas and challenges are used by God for the different ways the individual can be utilized to make the world better. Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”. (Romans 8:28) People are also different in respect to all the talents that God put in them for their individual journeys. Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”. (Ephesians 2:10). Not everyone will be a NBA star or a musician. Everyone is created by God with different abilities that can be used to accomplish different good things. Our innate abilities and different experiences make every individual remarkably different. Every person is incomparable and one person has no right to judge the struggles and talents of another person. Do not disvalue people because of their struggles or their abilities. God may have a plan that you don’t understand. The role of judge belongs to God alone.

By Douglas Graham

05/30/2026

Livin’ La Vida Loca

I am not a Ricky Martin fan but I do think the late ninety’s song has application to family life. The song talks about living a crazy life and references worldly, reckless living. The song isn’t wholesome but I love the term. The term “La Vida Loca” can also aptly describe most parts of family life. In reality, family life is probably crazier than the life Ricky Martin speaks of. Crazy things happen in families daily. When I was applying to be the preacher at the church in Cyril, my son Jordan told one of the leaders of the church that I had, “bladder problems”. I had recently had my gall bladder removed. Family life can be a life of crisis, catastrophes, hilarity and grief. The reality is that if you want to successfully live La Vida Loca, you have to have divine help. King Solomon wrote, “Unless the LORD builds a house, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the LORD guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is futile for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a gift of the LORD…” (Psalms 127:1-3) It takes so much energy to lead a family. The text tells us those labors are in vain without the Lord. When someone is trying overcome addiction, part of the first step is, “…our lives had become unmanageable”. That situation not only applies to people struggling with addiction but it can often apply to parents. Divine help and a church family can help tame the loca in the vida. Faith may seem to take energy and effort but those investments have a net gain on function and success.

By Douglas Graham

05/29/2026

Love Your Neighbor

There are certain chemicals that have to be treated with caution. Some substances are incendiary. These substances carry a caution that they can cause fires or even explosions. Hate has an incendiary effect that has a similar result on our communities. In 1992 I remember the images of burning neighborhoods and innocent bystanders. A man by the name of Rodney King was brutally beaten by the police. In theory the violence and rioting was to commend his experience but you may remember that he was mortified by it. He said, “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all JUST get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it, making it horrible for the older people and the kids? … It’s just not right. It’s not right. It’s not, it’s not going to change anything. We’ll, we’ll get our justice … Please, we can get along here. We all can get along. I mean, we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s try to work it out. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to work it out.”. If the rioting wasn’t for the named victim who was it for? Satan is evil and he relishes in hate. Satan takes advantage and uses the hate to burn positive things like businesses, street lights and even neighborhood homes. Satan uses the circumstance to multiply hopelessness by discouraging good policemen or even future good policemen. Hopelessness is multiplied by fewer businesses and the jobs they provided in neighborhoods desperate for them. Fewer businesses create less tax revenue to provide needed social services, public safety personal, and basic services. Paul warned, “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”. (Galatians 5:14) Let’s be careful not to start fires. Let’s put them out quickly when they get started. Let’s love each other and remember there is no benefit it devouring one another.

05/28/2026

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Story 302. There was a family of donkeys that lived on a farm between the towns of Burlington and Byron. There was a mom and a dad. The mom’s name was Gertrude and the dad’s name was Horace. There
were three young donkeys named Mary, Scott and Sam. There was also grandma and grandpa, their names were Raymond and Doris. Finally there was also an orphan donkey that lived with them. His name was Oliver. One day there was an older horse trying to make it back to the barn. Her name was Grace.

“What’s wrong Mrs. Grace?” asked Sam.

“I can’t seem to find my way back to the horse barn,” said Grace.

“It’s right over there. Can’t you see it,” said Sam.

“I haven’t been able to see for a long time,” said Grace.

Sam felt bad because Grace was blind and he said, “Grab my tail. I’ll take you there.”

As Sam was walking back he saw his mom.

“I’m so proud of you. It is just great to look up and see you doing something good,” said Gertrude.

“Thanks mom. Grace sure is sweet. I know God sees us when we’re bad, but does he see us when we are good?” asked Sam.

“He sure does. There was a man in the Bible that God said was righteous. He name was Job and he lived in the land of Uz. The Bible says that Job was blameless, upright, and that he feared God and
shunned Evil. One day Satan came into the presence of God and God said, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and
shuns evil.’ (Job 1:8) Satan thought that Job was only good because God gave Job blessings, but God knew that Job was righteous because God can see people’s hearts. Sam, God knows your heart. He
knows when you are bad and he knows when you are good. The Christian can confess when he is bad and God promises he will forgive and remember the sin no more. He forgets the bad, but remembers the good,” said Gertrude.

Song: Jesus Loves Me
Scripture Reading: Job 1:1-3
Question: What was different about Job? (He was good and righteous)