“Whatever: A 90-Day Devotional for Livin’ the True, Noble, and Totally Excellent Life!” by Allia Zobel Nolan (Zonderkids, 2012)

Former senior editor at Reader’s Digest, Allia Zobel Nolan, shows tween girls how to get their priorities straight by focusing on the sublime virtues of Philippians 4:8.  The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi: “Whatever is true, whatever is nobel, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Zobel Nolan now writes to 21st century girls, giving the same admonition in language they understand, including text.  Through 90 devotions, she instructs on dos (honoring and respecting) and don’ts (flippant eye-rolling and ignoring).  In a very casual style, she illustrates Scripture using modern-day scenarios, teaching what is petty and childish, and what is indeed noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Each devotion includes “Food for Thought” to fill their minds and ends with “Divine Thoughts,” a simple, heartfelt prayer for help in keeping from junk.

I was glad for the practical tactics to combat invading coarse thoughts, such as sending a polite email telling people to remove your name from their contact list for garbage.  She also counsels to keep away from superstition by deleting chain messages that offer blessings.

The Whatever virtues will help girls stay pure as they grow into women.  She tells them to get rid of sarcasm, to give music downloads the Whatever test, and to steer clear of disturbing thoughts.  Of course, it’s all spoken with the loveliness of Jesus Christ.

Zobel Nolan warns Whatever girls to be prepared for ridicule, not to take offense so easily, and to refuse to let a bully’s actions hold their thoughts prisoner.  “Way hard,” she agrees, but she also assures that inner peace comes when we concentrate on Jesus and the Whatever values.

Okay, so she totally goes overboard by using BFF like a gazillion times, but she does insist that it’s not okay for Whatever girls to use OMG.  Thank you, Allia!  SFETE

For more information about Zobel Nolan and her many other books, visit www.AlliaWrites.com.  A free copy of her book was provided by the publisher.