March/April 2009
Assurance -- Here's more about why Angela Crise (18) picked this quote du jour:
"I know now that God is able to give us the interior resources to face the storms and problems of life." -- Martin Luther King, Jr., minister and civil rights activist
Being a teenager is tough. Stresses can pull from every side, and sometimes life seems too much to bear. When I face struggles, I find hope in this quote. It reminds me that I have the strength to get through the troubles I'm facing. Better yet, it assures me that the strength is not mine but that it comes from God, on whom I can rely at all times. These words helped Dr. King survive so many struggles; I am confident that his words will hold true in my life as well because God's strength is my foundation.
Beautiful Boy -- In this powerful book, journalist David Sheff chronicles a father's journey through his son's addiction to meth. Now, his son, Nic Sheff, has written his own version of this heartbreaking yet compelling story of addiction, relapse, and recovery -- Tweak. Maybe one of these will end up on your summer reading list!
Build Things that Last -- Sometimes the most important and lasting things we build during a mission trip or work camp are relationships. Be sure to build yours on a solid foundation -- the love of Christ.
Confess Together -- As you begin to practice confession with your youth group or with a group of friends, consider using some of these traditional and contemporary prayers of confession, as well as these litanies and prayers of confession related to justice and compassion.
Coping with Breakups -- Breaking up is tough, even when a relationship has been abusive. If a breakup has you thinking about suicide, get help now!
Criticism -- Here's more about why Heather Tekavec picked this quote du jour:
"If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends, you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it -- that's the time to hold your tongue."
-- Alice Duer Miller, women's rights activist
I don't believe that friends always support one another no matter what. Sometimes friends need to speak up and correct one another; but we often speak out of envy, frustration, or anger instead of love. I love this quote because it's a simple guideline for when to speak up and when to keep quiet. Alice Duer Miller was an activist for women's rights in the early 1900s. I'm guessing she faced a lot of criticism and learned to deal with the people who take great pleasure in dishing it out.
Find a Quote -- Find quotes that inspire you, or add a Quote of the Day to your site or blog.
Guide to Pilates -- Pick a video or an article to learn how to tone various parts of your body through Pilates.
Guilt and Forgiveness - Feeling guilty? Spend some time reflecting on forgiveness.
"I Dream of Africa" Series -- Kami Rice, a regular author for devozine, traveled as a writer in Africa for four months in 2007 and met a wide variety of God's beautiful people. Follow her journey and read the stories of the people she encountered in this series of insightful blogs and devozine feature articles.
Laughter -- Here's more about why Jessica Adams (19) picked this quote du jour:
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
-- e.e. cummings, poet
Laughing is my favorite pastime. Although I am a shy, quiet person, I love to laugh. I like watching comedies and giggling at corny jokes. My sister and I used to burst out laughing at the silliest things. Oftentimes, we would make faces and then laugh at each other's laughter. We would lie on the floor gasping for breath and laughing like crazy. (Mom thought we were out of our minds.)
No matter what kind of physical or emotional state I'm in, laughing helps me to relax and to forget all my worries. I think even God likes to laugh.
If you don't believe Jessica and e.e. cummings, check out the benefits of laughter!
Little Things -- Here's more about why Stefani Rudnik (22) picked this quote du jour:
"Seemingly insignificant acts of obedience often set in motion the greatest forces of heaven." -- Brett Costigan, minister
When have you passed up an opportunity to obey the voice of God because you thought the request was insignificant? You may have ignored the chance to greet a stranger or to help your elderly neighbor with her yard work because you figured someone else could take care of that. You may even think that you are too special to pay attention to behind-the-scenes details, so you'll wait for a more important task. Well, today is a brand new day! It is time to set aside your agenda, your opinions, and your fears. Make time at the beginning of the day to ask God how you can take part in changing lives. Then go for it! Act on what God says. Believe that your obedience has the power to make a difference. Don't take lightly the task God has given you. The assignment may seem small, but it may alter another person's life. Who knows how the Lord will use an encouraging smile, a helping hand, or an offer to pray?
Love -- Here's more about why Christian Bateman (15) picked this quote du jour:
"We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don't get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won't solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way. We were made to be lovers bold in broken places, pouring ourselves out again and again until we're called home." -- Jamie Tworkowski, Founder of To Write Love on Her Arms
To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a non-profit organization that helps young people who have problems with depression, addiction, and self-injury. This quotation from the story of how TWLOHA began encourages us to offer love to the empty, healing to the broken, support to those who are falling apart. As the body of Christ, we need to be the safety net, the community that the hopeless fall into when they are most desperate. We need to lead them to God, for only God can fill them and make them whole again.
Learn more about TWLOHA from the story of another devozine writer.
Make a Wish Come True -- Discover how you can support or refer a child to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, which since 1980 has given hope, strength, and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Learn how you can make a difference in the life of a person who is homeless in your community. Find out how a gift of $10 can help an entrepreneur in a developing country pull himself or herself out of poverty. Or let us know how you are helping to make wishes come true.
More about Breath Prayers -- Explore the history of breath prayers, and find some examples in scripture. Or spend some time with The Jesus Prayer, and then develop a breath prayer of your own.
More Press On the Issue -- Where do you stand on the issues of global warming, sustainable resources, and caring for creation? Christians are arguing both sides of the environmental issues. See what you think of the stance the Pope has challenged young people to take, and hear how one young man in South Africa believes we can make the world a better place by lighting up the darkness.
My Way or the Highway -- Are you a control freak, always wanting to do things your way? Discover the freedom of giving up control to God.
Questions to Ask -- Once you have invited someone to be your accountability partner, create a list of the questions that the two of you will use to "check in" each week. If you need some ideas, check out these accountability questions.
Read the Whole Story -- To learn more about how a friend's suicide affected Brent Bill's life and more about how you can help prevent a friend's suicide, read the original article "My Best Friend Committed Suicide."
Roman Armor -- To help you better understand the passage from Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the full armor of God, check out all the pieces of protective gear a Roman soldier would have worn in the 1st century A.D.
Stress and Breathing -- It's true! Teens are stressed. But what is stress, and what does it do to you? Learn the value of literally taking a deep breath.
Suicide Hotlines and Help - If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, check out these hotlines and helpful articles.
The Green Belt Movement -- Learn more about this movement started in Kenya in 1977 by Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, the first African woman and the first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (2004). This grassroots tree-planting program designed to address the challenges of deforestation, soil erosion, and lack of water is now a vehicle for empowering women. Its mission is to empower communities worldwide to protect the environment and to promote good governance and cultures of peace.
Ubuntu Philosophy -- Gain a deeper understanding of this traditional African philosophy, which proclaims that we affirm our own humanity when we acknowledge the humanity of others and that the common bond between us can be a path to compassion, respect, reconciliation, and wholeness. To see this philosophy in action, watch the YouTube video Ubuntu, a mini-documentary about the Soweto Kliptown Youth Organization (SKY) located in an impoverished area of Johannesburg, South Africa. Built on the belief that through others you become a better person, this after-school program utilizes the arts to give children the confidence that they will achieve their dreams.
Uluru and Other Sacred Places -- Learn more about Uluru and about why this huge rock is such a sacred place to the Aboriginal people of Australia. Then spend some time exploring other places in the world that people consider special or sacred.
Vocation with Meaning -- If you are trying to figure out what to do with your life, consider the things about which you care passionately. And be sure to take some time to reflect on your definition of success.
What Is Ultimate Frisbee? -- Learn more about this exciting and demanding non-contact team sport played by thousands of people around the world. Then call your friends and give it a try!
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