If you’ve ever watched a dog chew on a bone, you’ve probably noticed how hard she concentrates on it—turning it over, getting a stronger grip, digging her teeth into it. She knows that the best meat is at the center of the bone, so she keeps chewing until she gets to the really good stuff. Believe it or not, that’s not too different than what it means to meditate. Meditation essentially means to chew on something over and over again. Chew on This provides you with something to chew on that will take you deeper—to the really good stuff. The more you chew on Scripture, the more you allow it to nourish you and give you strength. But even more than that, it draws you closer to the God who created you and wants to be in a relationship with you. During this month long devotional, you’ll walk through guided meditations, journaling opportunities, Scripture to chew on, and questions for reflection. All these experiences will help you discover Christ in your everyday life and grow closer to God. Take a big bite and chew on God’s Word for a while. See how good the “good stuff” inside can really be.
If you’ve ever watched a dog chew on a bone, you’ve probably noticed how hard she concentrates on it—turning it over, getting a stronger grip, digging her teeth into it. She knows that the best meat is at the center of the bone, so she keeps chewing until she gets to the really good stuff. Believe it or not, that’s not too different than what it means to meditate. Meditation essentially means to chew on something over and over again. Chew on This provides you with something to chew on that will take you deeper—to the really good stuff. The more you chew on Scripture, the more you allow it to nourish you and give you strength. But even more than that, it draws you closer to the God who created you and wants to be in a relationship with you. During this month long devotional, you’ll walk through guided meditations, journaling opportunities, Scripture to chew on, and questions for reflection. All these experiences will help you discover Christ in your everyday life and grow closer to God. Take a big bite and chew on God’s Word for a while. See how good the “good stuff” inside can really be.
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Overview
If you’ve ever watched a dog chew on a bone, you’ve probably noticed how hard she concentrates on it—turning it over, getting a stronger grip, digging her teeth into it. She knows that the best meat is at the center of the bone, so she keeps chewing until she gets to the really good stuff. Believe it or not, that’s not too different than what it means to meditate. Meditation essentially means to chew on something over and over again. Chew on This provides you with something to chew on that will take you deeper—to the really good stuff. The more you chew on Scripture, the more you allow it to nourish you and give you strength. But even more than that, it draws you closer to the God who created you and wants to be in a relationship with you. During this month long devotional, you’ll walk through guided meditations, journaling opportunities, Scripture to chew on, and questions for reflection. All these experiences will help you discover Christ in your everyday life and grow closer to God. Take a big bite and chew on God’s Word for a while. See how good the “good stuff” inside can really be.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780310851240 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Zondervan/Youth Specialties |
| Publication date: | 07/13/2009 |
| Sold by: | Zondervan Publishing |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 160 |
| File size: | 497 KB |
| Age Range: | 13 - 16 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Chew on This
30 Biblical Devotions into the Heart of ChristBy Dave Ambrose
Zondervan
Copyright © 2007 Dave AmbroseAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-310-27922-8
Chapter One
The Celebration
Guided Meditation
Imagine yourself sitting at a table surrounded by people you know very well. All eyes seem to be on you. Who's sitting at the table with you? Are any of your family members there? Which of your friends are seated at the table? A sense of anticipation fills the room. Everyone is waiting for the special moment. How are you feeling? What's going through your mind as everyone is watching you?
Suddenly the lights go out and the doors fl y open. Someone is walking toward the table with a cake. Candles are burning on top of it. It's for you. It's your birthday cake! Everyone begins singing, "Happy birthday to you ... happy birthday to you." What's going through your mind as everyone sings to you? Why do you imagine these particular people at the table with you? Is anyone missing who should be here?
As everyone finishes singing, someone asks you to make a wish. What do you wish for? What if your wish could come true? How would it change things? Or would it? As you close your eyes to blow out the candles, what are you thinking about? What's your heart telling you? As the smoke from the candles begins to clear and the lights go on again, it seems as though everyone is waiting for you to say something. What happens next?
Journal Entry
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
Scripture Guides Us
The Bible describes the day of your birth as a significant event. God celebrates your birthday because you are created in his image, and God wants a relationship with you forever. God celebrates your life because you're created to experience the fullness of the incredible life God's given you.
Take a few minutes to "chew on" the following Scripture verses, allowing God's Spirit to speak to you.
PSALM 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
JOHN 10:10
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
EPHESIANS 2:10
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Questions for Reflection
1. Why do you think God is so up on life?
2. What makes you feel fully alive? 3. What do you think it means to be God's "workmanship"?
4. If you could choose only three people to be at the table with you, who would they be? Why?
5. Which of your birthday celebrations brings back the best memories? Why?
6. Which birthday celebration, if any, would you rather not remember? Why not?
7. What would your life be like if God gave you everything you wished for? What are you wishing for most in life right now? Why?
8. How can unfulfilled wishes sometimes be a blessing in disguise? 9. What would you say to the people at the table if you had the chance?
10. Do you ever feel obligated to say something when you wish you could just stay quiet? How does that make you feel?
11. What do you think Jesus would say to you if he were sitting at the table with you on your birthday? What would you say to him if you could?
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Chew on This by Dave Ambrose Copyright © 2007 by Dave Ambrose. Excerpted by permission.
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
Read This First-THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK (AND HOW TO USE IT)....................9Read This Next-PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICES)....................15
One More Time!-A WORD ABOUT FOLLOWING OUR GUIDE ... THE HOLY SPIRIT....................23
Chapter 1-The Celebration....................25
Chapter 2-The Big Day....................29
Chapter 3-A Lonely Walk....................33
Chapter 4-Christmas Morning....................37
Chapter 5-What a Place!....................41
Chapter 6-Saying Goodbye....................45
Chapter 7-Help Me!....................49
Chapter 8-Repeat After Me....................53
Chapter 9-Alone in the Dark....................57
Chapter 10-Behind the Mask....................61
Chapter 11-Floating....................65
Chapter 12-The Most Painful Place....................69
Chapter 13-Family Reunion....................73
Chapter 14-Thanksgiving Day....................77
Chapter 15-Taking Inventory....................81
Chapter 16-The Struggle....................85
Chapter 17-In the Still of the Night....................89
Chapter 18-Hide and Seek....................93
Chapter 19-Steer Clear....................97
Chapter 20-Who Are You, Really?....................101
Chapter 21-The First Snow....................107
Chapter 22-Could've ... Would've ... Should've....................111
Chapter 23-Oh, to Be Young Again ....................115
Chapter 24-First Date....................119
Chapter 25-Talk to Me....................123
Chapter 26-Today Is the Day....................127
Chapter 27-TrueFriends....................131
Chapter 28-Living in a Material World....................135
Chapter 29-Dreaming Big Dreams....................141
Chapter 30-Forgiving the Unforgivable....................145
Chapter 31-On a Mission....................151
Appendix-THE JOURNEY CONTINUES-MORE SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE UPON....................155