• What does Joy mean by this: “God and I were on a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately basis. And it didn’t look good for Him”?
• What would you say if a friend said that to you?
• How do you think Grandpa feels as he sees this unfold?
• Why can’t Joy follow through?
Chapter 25
• What’s the significance of the stained glass windows?
• Regarding the prayer room, Mark says, “This is where the magic happens.” What do you think he means?
• Why does Joy have to live in the house out back? Is that a good thing?
Chapter 26
• What’s the connection between Joy and the pumpkin spice candles?
• Do you have any triggers like that? Smell, song, taste?
• Other than grief, what truly caused Joy’s spiritual search?
• Are there unanswered questions in your life that leave you feeling empty spiritually?
Chapter 27
• How is Silas feeling about the whole Diamond Estates adventure?
• What about the prayer time? Do you have your own daily quiet time with God?
• Is it wise or unwise for Ginny to choose her battles and not give Savvy a hard time about eating?
• What do you think is going to happen with Joy at Diamond Estates?
Chapter 28
• Joy feels like her parents might be better off without her. Did they send her that message? Should they have been more available to her?
• What do you think about the out-of-body experiences?
• What was Joy being shown with this one?
• Why is Joy afraid of the prayer room?
Chapter 29
• Do you think anyone suspects Joy of not telling the whole truth about her injuries?
• What are some of the strange things Joy has experienced, the most recent of which being The Voice? How much of that would it have taken for you to get help?
• Joy likes the idea of getting help to get rid of the spirits that are affecting her, but then she worries that she doesn’t want to be alone either. Why do you think she feels that way?
• What’s the solution?
• What is idolatry and how does it apply to Joy’s choices?
Chapter 30
• What upsets Silas so much?
• Was the fire natural or spiritual … or both?
• Who does Joy blame for the fire?
Chapter 31
• Can the fire be a punishment from God? Or is it an attack from the enemy?
• Or could it just be natural? Does everything have to be tied to the spiritual?
• What do you think it is in this case?
Chapter 32
• Why doesn’t Savvy want to room with Joy?
• What is the basis for her concern?
• Do you think she’s justified?
• What does it mean for God to use for good what the devil meant for evil?
Chapter 33
• What should Joy have done when that Voice directs her to the bathroom?
• What about once she hears Raven’s voice?
• What do you think compelled Raven to get in touch with Joy?
Chapter 34
• What does Joy mean when she says she wants to find a way out?
• Savvy promises to keep Joy’s secret. Do you think she should?
• Why kinds of problems might she be facing if she answers the question: Who is Jesus Christ to you?
• And, who IS Jesus Christ to YOU?
Chapter 35
• Sounds like Joy might be giving up. Why doesn’t she have faith that God can get her through this?
• Is there any grief or pain in your life that keeps you from drawing close to God?
• What do you do about it?
• She’s a little worried about being on her own away from Diamond Estates. Do you think those concerns are reasonable and helpful? Why or why not?
• Is it a mistake having Stella stay in the house with Joy? Why or why not?
Chapter 36
• Is it good to talk about grief as a part of the healing process?
• Does Joy make a mistake by going to Austin?
• Do you have a different opinion of Austin now?
Chapter 37
• How does Joy’s faith begin to shift at the funeral?
• If she wants to meet her Grandpa in eternity, what does Joy need to do?
• What is it that Joy is actually witnessing take place around Stella?
• What are the other people seeing?
• How might that apply to the spiritual battle going on all around you?
Chapter 38
• Why does Joy flee?
• She determines that she can never return to God. Why?
• Joy feels hopeless. Why? What is she considering?
• Can you understand why she’d come to that conclusion even if you don’t agree with her?
• What would you say to a friend who was dealing with the same sort of hopelessness?
Chapter 39
• How do you think Joy’s parents felt when the garage door opened?
• What do you think happens next in Joy’s life?
Chapter 40
• The battle Joy is embroiled in is intense. How could she have avoided that kind of fight for her life?
• Who wins?
• How have you been challenged through this book?
Chapter 41
• “The spirit within me craved companionship with its Savior. But my flesh was committed to another master.” What does Joy mean by this?
• What does the old Cherokee legend mean to you?
• Do you believe the spiritual battle Joy witnessed is happening around you and even for you?
• How confident are you in the power of God to save you and protect you from the enemy?
• Have you given your life to Jesus?
•
Austin and Joy are getting married. Want an invite to the wedding?
How Can I Be Saved?
Everyone is a sinner:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23 NIV)
God requires payment for sin:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
Jesus paid the price:
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT)
You need only believe and confess:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT)
It’s a done deal:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 NLT)
The steps of salvation are:
1. Confess you are a sinner.
2. Understand that you deserve to pay the price for your sins.
3. Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay that price for you.
4. Repent by turning from your sinful life to newness in Christ.
5. Receive the free gift of salvation.
Congratulations on taking this important first step on a journey with Christ!
Remember, salvation doesn’t mean you’re perfect, it only means you’re forgiven.
But through the power of God, if you allow Him, He’ll help you walk in righteousness as He points you in the right direction.
Youth-culture expert, Nicole O’Dell, resides in Paxton, Illinois, with her husband and six children—the youngest of which are toddler triplets. She’s the founder of Choose NOW Ministries, dedicated to battling peer pressure and guiding teens through tough issues while helping parents encourage good decisions, and host of Choose NOW Radio: Parent Talk and Teen Talk, where “It’s all about choices!” On air, O’Dell covers peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popul
arity, and anything else that comes up along the way. Nicole writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life’s tough choices.
She’s an author of YA fiction, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction, which offers readers alternate endings, allowing them to decide what the main character does, and the Diamond Estates series based on her experiences as a resident at Teen Challenge as a teenager. Her non-fiction for teens includes Girl Talk (February 2012), which she wrote with her two daughters based on their popular advice column.
Nicole’s desire to bridge the gap between parents and teens is evident in her parenting non-fiction like the Hot Buttons series aimed at helping parents handle tough issues with their tweens and teens before they pop up in real life. Watch for Hot Buttons books on subjects like dating, Internet activity, sexuality, prejudice, friendship, politics, and more.
For more information on Nicole O’Dell or her books, or to schedule Nicole for a speaking event or interview, visit http://www.nicoleodell.com. Podcasts of Choose NOW Radio are available at http://www.chooseNOWradio.com.
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