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Overview
Youth (and their parents, mentors, and leaders) are continually seeking a devotional from a mainline Christian perspective that honors them. Different than many youth devotionals, which use punitive language and the context of purity, Cross Words is a devotional for students that is engaging and realistic about their brokenness alongside God’s redeeming grace and forgiveness. It will help them walk through the daily blessings and challenges of life, offering opportunities to consider how their faith might be strengthened through those experiences.
Each week offers a brief reflection followed by a question to ponder, Scripture, prayer, or quote to use as a daily touchstone in the coming days, set in a format with open space for their own writing and drawing. Using approachable wording that doesn’t require them to learn a new language in order to understand the reflection will appeal to today's teens. Meeting young people where they are on their journey, it can be used for personal devotion or in educational settings, youth meetings, confirmation classes, mission trips, pilgrimages, retreats, coffee shops, or with families around the supper table.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780819232465 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Morehouse Publishing |
| Publication date: | 04/01/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 384 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
Duana Cisney has over eleven years experience at both church and diocesan levels and continually seeks to serve youth in new ways. She received her Advance Certification in Youth Ministry at the Seminary of the Southwest. As a teenager, she faced some tough challenges and regrets not having had a safe church family to walk alongside her. She wants our teens today to know that they will make mistakes and that God will be there for them no matter what. She feels it is important for students to know they aren't perfect, but they are made in the image of God and that alone is wonderful. She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Jenifer Gamber is a trusted author of several bestselling books for youth in the Episcopal Church, including My Faith, My Life and Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People. She is a sought-after speaker on topics related to Christian formation, teen spirituality, and Christian parenting. She serves as chaplain at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School and assistant rector at St. Patrick’s Parish in Washington, DC, where she lives.
Read an Excerpt
Cross Words
A Devotional for Youth
By Duana Cisney
Church Publishing Incorporated
Copyright © 2016 Duana CisneyAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8192-3246-5
CHAPTER 1
January
O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Collect for the Future of the Human Race, BCP, 828
In our liturgical calendar:
* January 1 — The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ
* January 6 — The Feast of the Epiphany
* The Season of Epiphany
In our secular calendar:
* January 1 — New Year's Day
* 3rd Monday in January — Martin Luther King Day
JANUARY
Week 1: A New Year
For many people, the New Year always brings thoughts of the tradition of having a "New Year's Resolution." I like the New Year and the fresh start it brings, but I don't really like the New Year's resolution part. It feels like we're setting ourselves up for failure because, the truth is, most people don't keep their resolutions past the first couple of months of the year.
Consider This:
Even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
2 Cor. 5:16b–17 NRSV
What if we took the time at the beginning of a new year to reflect on ourselves as the beloved children of God that we are? What if we really looked at ourselves as God does: through the lens of pure love, unconditional and freely given? We would see a new creation — every time! There is nothing that can remove us from the love God has for us except for us. We can never go so far down the wrong road that we can't turn around and find God right there.
Praying you see Christ creating something new in you this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Things that keep me from seeing myself as God's beloved:
Things that make me feel unworthy:
How would God respond to me feeling unworthy?
Ways I can accept that I am God's beloved:
* My Reflections
Week 2: Epiphany 1
Have you ever been asked to do something that you felt completely unqualified to do?
I heard Bethany Hegedus, the author of Grandfather Gandi talk about her experience in writing the book that began over ten years ago. It's about Ghandi's grandson, Arun (the person with whom she collaborated to write the story). She said that when she started this process, she didn't really have the writing credentials; that she felt unqualified. When she shared those feeling with Arun and asked why he wanted to work with her on it, he said, "Just that you have the heart for this work makes you qualified."
Consider This:
The council was caught by surprise by the confidence with which Peter and John spoke. After all, they understood that these apostles were uneducated and inexperienced. They also recognized that they had been followers of Jesus.
Acts 4:13
There is an old saying, "God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called." On the surface that statement might sound trite, but I think it's deeper than that. I think it means that we don't need to be a certain age, have particular degrees, certifications, or even experience to be a creative part of God's kingdom. I believe it means we are all qualified in our own way.
Praying you participate with God this week, because you are qualified ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
How I feel called to participate in God's kingdom:
Times I have been told I wasn't "qualified:"
Unique ways I feel qualified to help to be a part of God's kingdom:
* My Reflections
Week 3: Epiphany 2
Have you ever heard the saying: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?" It's something my mother told me. A lot! Like a lot of people, I read social media feeds, but more and more I am really surprised at some of the things people feel free to say.
Do you ever wonder if what you put out on social media or in texts ever gets misunderstood or taken the wrong way?
What about when we are face-to-face or in a group? I think sometimes we're so quick to say what we think, we don't realize how it might feel to the person we're talking to or to someone who is listening.
Consider This:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Gal. 5:22–23a
What if we could just step back and take a breath when someone says something that hurts? What if we really thought about the fruits of the Spirit and how that Spirit moves in and through us? Maybe we could offer kindness in return. And, with one kindness at a time, we could change the world.
Praying your spirit is fruitful this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Times an electronic message was misunderstood:
How I responded:
What if God read all my texts/posts?
The gifts of the Spirit that I can share:
* My Reflections
Week 4: Epiphany 3
Have you ever really trusted someone? Have you ever been hurt by a broken trust? Or, have you ever broken a trust and hurt someone?
Trust is key in close relationships like family and friendship, but it's also important in general. For example, I trust that other drivers will follow the rules of the road so that I will be safe and they expect the same from me.
I don't think, as humans, we can get along in this world without trust.
Consider This:
Although you've never seen him, you love him. Even though you don't see him now, you trust him and so rejoice with a glorious joy that is too much for words. You are receiving the goal of your faith: your salvation.
1 Pet. 1:8–9
God promises forgiveness to us no matter what. We have to trust in that. We would have no faith without trust, because trust is the foundation of our faith. Just as trust is the foundation of all relationships.
Praying you trust and are trusted this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
My trust was broken when:
The forgiveness I offered, or not:
Why?
I broke a trust when:
How I was forgiven, or not:
* My Reflections
Week 5: Epiphany 4
Do you love music? When I wrote this, I lived in Austin, so for locals that might be a silly question. Music is everywhere, all the time, and I loved it! I loved walking downtown and seeing musicians on the street or being in our youth room with students singing whatever moved them at that moment.
Consider This:
Be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts.
Eph. 5:18b–19
I have always loved music. It makes us happy and moves our feet, soothes sad feelings, and lulls babies to sleep. Music joins people together in a joyful way. It doesn't matter if you are the musician playing the instrument, the singer, or the listener enjoying it all. It's engaging and liberating; it can draw you in and set you free ... all at the same time.
The Holy Spirit is like that: a soul-filling kind of music, soothing and joyful, engaging and liberating, drawing us in and setting us free ... all at the same time.
Praying you have a musical week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Things that make me feel good:
Ways I share those things with others:
How I see God in those times:
* My Reflections
February
Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts, to give the knowledge of your glory in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Preface for Epiphany, BCP, 378
In our liturgical calendar:
* The Season of Epiphany
* Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent
In our secular calendar:
* February 14 — Valentine's Day
* President's Day
Week 6: Epiphany 5
Do you ever have bad days? It's a silly question, but think about it. Why do we have bad days? What makes them bad? Maybe your friend isn't nice, or says something mean. Maybe you have an argument with your parents. It could be you forgot to study for that big test or you didn't make the team. There are so many things that can put us in the mindset that we are having a bad day.
Consider This:
I'm convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.
Rom. 8:38–39
What if we looked at our circumstances through a different lens? What if we could step back in that moment and connect to that deep abiding love that God has for us? I know that's hard — really hard, but what if we could just practice one little bit at a time? Try it with me this week. When that thing really tweaks your nerves, take a deep breath and just feel God's love. It's always there for you. Don't let your circumstances dictate your joy or happiness. Let God do that ...
Praying your "tweaks" become joys this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Things that make a day bad for me:
How I react to them:
How I react to the people around me:
How I can look at those circumstances differently:
* My Reflections
Week 7: Valentine's Day
(Epiphany 6)
February 14th is the day most people in many areas around the world celebrate Valentine's Day. A day where we buy cards, candy, and flowers for the ones we love. There are so many songs, poems, and stories written about love and all its many forms.
Consider This:
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn't jealous, it doesn't brag, it isn't arrogant; it isn't rude, it doesn't seek its own advantage, it isn't irritable, it doesn't keep a record of complaints, it isn't happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Cor. 13:4–8a
This is a passage often read at weddings. On the surface it looks like it would fit right in on a Valentine's Day card, but I think it's deeper. Jesus has a deep abiding love for us that endures all things. Jesus is an example to us of how to love without making it about ourselves; an unselfish love. What if our love for another had no conditions? What if we could learn to love people right where they are, how they are? What if we could really love like Jesus?
Praying you experience unconditional love this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Ways I want to be loved:
Ways I can put myself aside:
Ways I can show others Jesus's love:
Ways I can receive God's love for me:
* My Reflections
Week 8: Epiphany 7
This Little Light of Mine is one of my favorite childhood songs. I love sharing it with really small children and getting them to yell, "No!" at the right time of the song. It is fun to watch them get such a kick out of yelling! But what are they yelling about?
Consider This:
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
Matt. 5:16
and this:
No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand so that those who enter can see the light.
Luke 8:16
Are we singing about Jesus as the light? Are we singing about the light within us? Is Jesus the light within us? I think "yes" to all of the above. Jesus said people must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. So what if we really did? What if we became like little children joyfully shouting loudly that no one was going to hide our light under a bushel? What if we became like little children gleefully letting our little light shine?
Praying your light shines brightly this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Ways I hide my light under a "bushel":
Ways I shine my light:
Things that make that decision for me:
Time when I'm afraid to shine but wish I could:
* My Reflections
Week 9: Epiphany 8
"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken," said Oscar Wilde. Be yourself. It sounds simple, but I think it can be really hard sometimes. What does that even mean? Be yourself. How do we figure out who we are? We get lots of messages from a multitude of directions telling us what we should be, how we should look, what we should wear, what we should drive. How do we know?
Consider This:
God created humanity in God's own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.
Gen. 1:27
God created you. God created me. We are different, yet bound together by the same Holy Spirit. You and I don't look alike, yet inside there is a familiarity. I think we get that confused with the outside. The body is temporary. It will age and get wrinkled, but the inside will continue to grow, bloom, and seek a connection with the divine. You are beautiful, holy, and created in God's own image. Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
Praying you see God's beauty in the mirror this week ...
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
* Touchstones
Initial thoughts:
* Going Deeper
Who I think I am:
How I try to be like others:
What I feel when I recognize myself as made in God's image:
Ways I can help others see God's beauty in them:
* My Reflections
March
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For our sins he was lifted high upon the cross, that he might draw the whole world to himself; and, by his suffering and death, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who put their trust in him.
Preface for the Season of Lent, BCP, 379
In our liturgical calendar:
* Sometimes Ash Wednesday
* The Season of Lent
* Sometimes Holy Week and Easter
In our secular calendar:
* March 20 or 21 — Vernal (Spring) Equinox
* Spring break
Ash Wednesday
Stuff. ... I think in general, most people have a lot of stuff. I do. Things we don't really need, but keep anyway; thinking it might come in handy one day. We buy things that we don't need simply because we want them. We collect things and we treasure them. It's not necessarily bad to have lots of stuff, but is it getting in the way of something else? Could it be that we focus on the tangibles around us and thereby forget the intangibles?
Consider This:
Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don't eat them and where thieves don't break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt. 6:19–21
Lent is a time of reflection, prayer, fasting, self-denial, spiritual growth, almsgiving, and simplicity. Begin your Lent by looking around at your "treasures." What do you really need ... really? Consider sharing your treasures. What could you give to a shelter? What items might you be willing to part with so that others may have?
Praying for your heavenly treasures ...
My thoughts and prayers as I begin my Lenten journey:
My Lenten observance (What I might give up or take on):
In your journal or notebook, write your reflections down to these prompts and questions.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Cross Words by Duana Cisney. Copyright © 2016 Duana Cisney. Excerpted by permission of Church Publishing Incorporated.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments,Foreword by Jenifer Gamber,
Introduction,
January (Week 1–5) New Year's Day, The Season of Epiphany, and more,
February (Week 6–9) The Season of Epiphany, Valentine's Day, and more,
March (Week 10–13) Ash Wednesday, Lent, springtime, and more,
April (Week 14–18) Holy Week, Easter, and more,
May (Week 19–22) Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Pentecost, Exams, and more,
June (Week 23–27) Father's Day, The Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time), and more,
July (Week 28–32) Independence Day, summertime, The Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time), and more,
August (Week 33–36) Back to school, The Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time), and more,
September (Week 37–40) Labor Day, school days, The Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time), and more,
October (Week 41–45) Columbus Day, The Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time), Halloween, and more,
November (Week 46–49) All Saints' Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and more,
December (Week 50–52) Advent, Christmas, and more,