January/February 2009
Biblical Encouragement -- Whether you need encouragement to follow your dreams or just to get out of bed in the morning, check out these Bible verses, especially the ones for graduates.
Dorothea Dix-- Learn more about this social reformer whose lone voice and iron will exposed and changed the brutal treatment of the mentally ill in America.
Is It Healthy? -- Don't be swept off your feet! Find out what makes a relationship healthy -- or unhealthy. Does your relationship need a makeover? Take a quiz to see if you need some help.
Listen to "Mirror" -- If you struggle with the reflection you see in the mirror or with the person the media tempts you to be, add this BarlowGirl video to your devo time. Don't be defined by anything but the reflection of God's image in you!
More about Belize -- Learn more about the history, the culture, and the people of Belize, a tiny country in Latin America.
Practice Joy -- Try various exercises and reminders to help you practice joy and laughter every day. Use quotes, movies, and music to help you find joy in your life. Then offer that joy to others.
Pray Before You Read -- Pray a prayer for illumination before you begin your Bible reading or study. Ask God to open your eyes to wisdom and truth.
Prayer for Self-Forgiveness -- When you are unable to forgive yourself, try praying this prayer. Pray it often, even every day, until you believe that your sins are forgiven and you can forgive yourself. Meanwhile, learn how to practice forgiveness; and try out some of these healthy ways to deal with guilt.
Read Dating Mr. Darcy -- Whether or not you are a Jane Austen fan, check out this popular book by Sarah Arthur, one of our regular devozine writers. Dating Mr. Darcy: The Smart Girl's Guide to Sensible Romance offers timeless lessons on dating and relationships for those of us in the 21st century. See for yourself -- read an excerpt!
Read For Young Men Only -- Intended to help teen guys understand the truth about what teenage girls feel, want, and think, For Young Men Only: A Guy's Guide to the Alien Gender is also designed to be a book that teenage guys will actually want to read. There are cartoons! Plus the candid thoughts of over 1,000 teenage girls, who eagerly shared what they most wanted guys to know. This book proves that ordinary guys have a real chance with great girls, that girls aren't random and confusing, and that guys can learn to understand and honor the unique way girls are wired.
Read Scripture Aloud -- Phyllis Tickle argues that when we read and hear scripture, it becomes part of us and changes us.
"Read the Bible" Guides -- If you've decided to read the entire Bible in a year or three or book by book, use one of these guides to help you reach your goal. Or consider reading online and charting your progress.
Relief Efforts Continue -- Take some time to learn about the continuing relief efforts in New Orleans, and discover how you might get involved.
Richard Wurmbrand -- Learn more about this humble minister who endured 14 years of communist torture in a Romanian prison. He later began The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry organization that serves as the voice of persecuted Christians around the world.
Rosa Parks -- Learn more about this woman who took a stand and changed a nation, who is recognized today as the "mother of the modern-day civil rights movement" in America.
Sponsor a Child -- Make a difference in the life of a child, and learn more about how we are all God's children. Check out opportunities to sponsor a child through Compassion International, World Vision, Save the Children, or a program in which your school or your church participates. Then challenge a group of friends, your family, or your youth group to join you in sponsoring a child in need.
The Upper Room -- The ministries of The Upper Room include programs (see "What's Chrysalis"), books, resources, and magazines (yes, devozine!) that seek to encourage and deepen the spiritual lives of people of all ages all around the world. The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, the magazine that Philip Polo and his friends help to distribute in Kenya, has been around for 75 years and is read every day by almost 3 million people in over 100 countries and in 40 different languages.
Thematic Approach -- If you have already read the Bible from cover to cover, you might want to dig deeper into scripture by reading and studying it thematically or chronologically.
Tiananmen Square Video -- Need a history lesson? The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 were a series of demonstrations led by labor activists, students, and intellectuals calling for democratic reform within the government of the People's Republic of China. The movement lasted seven weeks (April 15 to June 4) before the government ordered tanks to clear protestors from Tiananmen Square in Beijing, leaving many civilians dead or injured. Watch the YouTube video of an unknown rebel who stood up to the tanks in protest, and reflect on a video collage of those who gave their life for this cause.
What's Chrysalis? -- In the cocoon, a fuzzy caterpillar goes through the "chrysalis" stage of development, during which it becomes an awesome butterfly. The chrysalis process symbolizes how Christ's love and power can transform your life. Chrysalis "Flights" (for 10th-12th graders) and "Journeys" (for young adults, ages 19-24) are three-day spiritual renewal events that provide an opportunity for you to learn more about faith, to grow closer to Christ, to experience Christian love and support, to make new faith commitments, and to live out your faith at home, at church, at school, and in your community.
Work It Out! -- It's normal for friends to clash now and then. What matters most is that you don't let misunderstandings or conflicts destroy your friendship. Learn what to do when you and your friends disagree.
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