ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 4
Chick Chat
Text copyright © 2006 by Kristi Holl
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zonderkidz, 5300 Patterson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Holl, Kristi.
Chick chat : more devotions for girls / by Kristi Holl with Jennifer Vogtlin.
p. cm. -- (Faithgirlz)
ISBN-13: 978-0-310-71143-8 (softcover)
ISBN-10: 0-310-71143-6 (softcover)
1. Girls--Prayer-books and devotions--English. I. Vogtlin, Jennifer, 1976- II. Title. III. Series.
BV4860.H6 2006
242'.62--dc22
2005033613
Scripture quotations come from the following sources:
The Amplified Bible, Old Testament. Copyright © 1965, 1987, by the Zondervan Corporation. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
The Amplified Bible, New Testament. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987, by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission.
Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International
Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.
THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001,
2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
The New King James Version. Scripture quotations marked “NKJV” are taken from the New King
James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, Today’s New International Version®. TNIV®. Copyright © 2002, 2004 by International
Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Note abbreviations used herein, in alphabetical order: AMP, NIV, NLT, MSG, NASB, NKJV, and
TNIV. Also note that KJV means the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy,
recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior
permission of the publisher.
Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan
Art Direction: Laura Mason
Interior design: Susan Ambs
Interior composition: Ruth Bandstra
Cover design: Gayle Raymer Design
Illustrated by: Robin Zingone
Printed in the United States
06 07 08 09 10 /DCI/ 6 5 4 3 2 1
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 5
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
Your Best Shot ............................................................8
Loyalty......................................................................10
Victory Prize..............................................................12
Gone and Forgotten....................................................14
It's a Brand-New Day! ................................................16
Win the Prize!............................................................18
Can You Pass the Test? ...............................................20
Lend Me Your Ear ......................................................22
No Fear! ...................................................................24
For All the Right Reasons ............................................26
Be Prepared ..............................................................28
Walking by Faith ........................................................30
Just Say the Word......................................................32
Growing and Changing ...............................................34
Getting a Life ............................................................36
Physical Fitness..........................................................38
Making Plans .............................................................40
Ahhh…Sleep .............................................................42
Are You Listening? .....................................................44
Me? Worship Idols? ....................................................46
Choosing Friends Wisely.............................................48
Divine Defeat ............................................................50
Making Peace ............................................................52
Be Generous..............................................................54
Loneliness .................................................................56
Press On With Courage..............................................58
Focus! ......................................................................60
Go With Your Gut ......................................................62
Down in the Dumps ...................................................64
No Gloating Zone ......................................................66
Work of Art ..............................................................68
Totally Involved .........................................................70
Caught in the Act ......................................................72
Lend a Hand .............................................................74
Seek Advice ..............................................................76
Don't Burst the Dam! .................................................78
Pushy, Pushy......................................................80
Do You Promise? .............................................82
Talk is Cheap.................................................84
False Accusations .........................................86
Can't Argue With That!................................88
Showing Off ................................................90
Cutting Down..............................................92
Brand-New..................................................94
Golden Rule..................................................96
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
Page 6
Asking and Receiving ..................................................98
Victory! ...................................................................100
Finding the Truth ......................................................102
Pure Gold ................................................................104
Going My Way? .......................................................106
No Revenge .............................................................108
Instruction Book .......................................................110
Keeping the Peace .....................................................112
Support Each Other ..................................................114
God's Friend.............................................................116
Never Alone.............................................................118
No Way! .................................................................120
Get Rich Quick? .......................................................122
Fight Discouragement! ..............................................124
M.Y.O.B. .................................................................126
Freely Give ..............................................................128
Whom Can You Trust? ..............................................130
Testing! Testing! .......................................................132
Lost Sheep...............................................................134
Me, a Cheater?.........................................................136
Sticking To It ............................................................138
Don't Forget! ...........................................................140
Who's That?............................................................142
Mega Courage..........................................................144
Focus! .....................................................................146
Counting the Cost ....................................................148
Becoming Wiser and Wiser........................................150
Treasure Hunt..........................................................152
People Pleasing.........................................................154
Loose Lips ...............................................................156
Zipith Thy Lip!..........................................................158
What Are You Eating?...............................................160
Getting a Promotion..................................................162
Funny Money...........................................................164
Soothe Your Sorrows.................................................166
Capture the Moment! ...............................................168
Behold the Sloth .......................................................170
Turn on the Light! .....................................................172
Give Up Everything? .................................................174
Sick at Heart............................................................176
Chill ........................................................................178
Talk is Cheap............................................................180
Resist the Bait ..........................................................182
Bring Me Back..........................................................184
Happy No Matter What............................................186
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
4:26 PM
Page 7
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
–2 Corinthians 4:18
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 8
Devotion #1
“Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might.”
—Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)
Your Best Shot
On different days, you do different jobs with your
hands: wash dishes, shovel snow, do math problems, practice cheerleading routines, clean your
room—and so much more. Instead of rushing through
each activity, do your very best work. Don’t just do
enough to get by.
That sounds inspiring, but what if the job is something you
don’t understand? What if it’s a task to do for someone who
irritates you, like your bossy big brother? What if you’re
paired for a science project with a rude girl with scraggly hair
who actually wears pink boots in the classroom? You don’t
want to go the extra mile. In fact, you’re willing to take
an F for the project if the science teacher will let
you off the hook. That isn’t going to happen,
so you grit your teeth and get to work with
her.
Then one day you learn a great
secret from Colossians 3:23 (NLT):
“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever
you do, as though you were working for
8
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 9
the Lord rather than for people.” Each day after that, when
you walk into science class, you take a deep breath and say,
“You know I don’t want to do this, Lord, but I’m doing it for
you.” Then, with a fresh surge of energy, you work with all
your strength.
Whatever you have to do today—whether it’s stuff you
love or stuff you hate—do it to the very best of your ability. Be determined. There is much satisfaction to be found
in a job well done.
one way to show love to
Girl Talk:
others is to “never be lazy in
What activities, school
Lord enthusiastically.”
Romans 12:11 NLT
subjects, or chores are the
hardest for you to do “with all
your might”? If you performed
them with excellence, might
God Talk:
orinthi ans 15:10
your work, but serve the
1C
re:
More to
Exp
lo
Did You Know . . .
you feel differently
Lord, I want to do everything
about them?
to the best of my ability. Help me to
remember that I’m really doing it all
for you. Amen
d-hundre
e
n
o
A
t too!
en
ur migh
under t
(
o
y
ly
ll
e
a
r
u
h
e wit
iking leis
Exercis
But by b
ld girl bik
r.
o
u
r
o
a
h
e
y
n
s in a
and
twelve1 calorie
sixteen
8
pound,
1
n
s
e
e
n
r
w
u
t
b
th (be
r hour)
544
r streng
e
h
miles pe
ll
a
an burn
c
h
l
it
ir
w
g
e
ly
rous
at sam
ing vigo
our), th
h
r
e
p
s
n mile
ninetee
r!
per hou
calories
:
Fun Factoid
9
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 10
Devotion #2
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help
in time of need.”—Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)
Loyalty
A friend loves at all times. She shows unwavering
devotion to others and is truehearted. A real friend
keeps the promises she makes. Close friends are there
to help when sudden suffering, distress, or trouble
strikes.
Anna was worried about her best friend, Jessie. Jessie’s
dad had been arrested for taking money from the company
where he worked. Jessie was afraid to go to school, fearing
the remarks other kids were sure to make. The week after
the arrest report appeared in the newspaper, many of her
classmates did make nasty or thoughtless remarks. But
Anna stuck by Jessie, never leaving her side before
school or during lunch or on the way home. She
stuck up for her, shielded her from nosy questions, and (most important) prayed for her
and her family situation. “A man who
has friends must himself be friendly, but
there is a friend who sticks closer than a
brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV).
10
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 11
You may have brothers within your family circle at home.
But if you are a believer, you have many brothers (and
sisters)—others who also love the Lord. You need to be loyal
to them. The friend you must be most loyal to is Jesus. He
said to his disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to
lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if
you do what I command” (John 15:13–14 TNIV).
You are never without friends. Jesus is your best friend,
and he will stick closer to you than anyone else can. What
a privilege it is to have such a friend!
More to
Did You Know . . .
Girl Talk:
friend to David that he made a
Can you think of a
special vow to David, and he
friend who has helped
sealed the pact by giving
David his robe, tunic, sword,
you through some trouble?
bow, and belt? See 1 Samuel
What friends have you
–1
th 1:16 7
Ru
re:
Jonathan was such a good
Exp
lo
helped through a
18:3–4.
tough time?
God Talk:
Father, thank you for giving me good
friends. Help me be a loyal friend to
others. Amen.
Mini Quiz:
iend’s
r best fr
eling
been fe
d? You
rien
a loyal f
u
o
y
e
r
A
ugh
talk thro
n
a
c
u
o
t so y
ou
the nigh
d
down. Y
n
e
p
s
her to
A.invite
lems.
ong.
her prob
hat’s wr
w
k
s
a
o
er t
B. call h
t of it!
snap ou
o
t
r
e
h
11
C. tell
s!;
yalty Plu
r: A. Lo
(Answe
ero)
ge; C. z
B. avera
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 12
Devotion #3
“God blesses the people who patiently endure testing.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that
God has promised to those who love him.”
—James 1:12 (NLT)
Victory Prize
People who do God’s will during times of trial and testing are blessed and happy. Afterward they will receive the
“crown of life,” or eternal life. In biblical times, a crown was
a wreath placed on the head of a victorious athlete.
You may be an athlete, but you may not feel victorious! You
may be exhausted. When you join the track team, you dream
of getting in shape and winning a ribbon at the first meet.
However, a week into the season you want to quit. Your
shins hurt. Your ribs ache. Your lungs burn. Your big
toes are bruised. And yet, you want that ribbon.
So you take a deep breath and head out to run
those laps.
Ribbons aren’t given simply for entering the race. Prizes aren’t awarded for
merely entering your art project in the
contest. Diplomas aren’t given just for
starting high school. Starting isn’t difficult.
12
ChickChat_01.qxp
1/26/06
2:06 PM
Page 13
You also need to patiently endure a testing time before receiving
the award. Note: Going through a test with grumbling and
complaining will not result in being blessed by God. Awards
are given to those who “keep on keeping on” when they’d
rather quit—plus they strive to finish the job with a good
attitude. “As you know, we consider blessed those who have
persevered” (James 5:11 NIV).
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have the power of God
inside you. You can’t overcome problems by yourself, but
the Holy Spirit working through you can!
More
Did You Know . . .
Abraham was tested for
Girl Talk:
God? But he waited
received what God had
6:15.
cial problem? A relationship
test at school or home? A
health issue? Do you grumble
and complain—or do you
still have the joy of
the Lord?
:2
5
God Talk:
1 Co
ri nt
h
i
a
ns
9
promised. See Hebrews
you facing right now? A finan-
1:2 – 4 and
patiently—and in time
What trial or test are
me s
important promise from
Ja
re:
many years after receiving an
to E
xpl
o
Lord, I can’t win without your help,
but help me to also do my part to be
patient and endure. I won’t quit!
Amen.
13