Weekly Challenge for Teens September 7- September 14

Does your family enjoy movies? Oftentimes, there is a huge lack of family-friendly movies available for young ones. So, for this week’s challenge….

Write a family movie viewing guide! Include a review of each movie you enjoy watching and why, especially the movies that are FAMILY FRIENDLY. Feeling inspired? You could even write a a Bible study to accompany your favorite movies. Then, pass it out to your church, your neighbors, your friends! Better yet—write it with your friends! Have sections such as: Great movies for preschoolers, favorites for kiddos, and great flix for teens! Make it unique and helpful to your community. So what are you waiting for? Lights, camera, WRITE!

Weekly Challenge for Teens August 30- September 6

Have you ever noticed when you are in a group of friends, even strong Christians, that conversations can go, well, less than Christ-like? We aren’t saying your topics have to be constantly spiritual, but discussing the Lord and what He has done for us is very impactful. The book of Malachi says that, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Did you catch that?

Those that TALKED OFTEN to one another. Those that FEARED the Lord. Those that THOUGHT upon His name. SO…(drum roll, please) here is your challenge. When you are hanging out with your friends this week, talk about God. Sure, it can be akward at first, but the Lord is honored when we seek Him, speak of Him, and are eager to learn more. After a while, you may find that these conversations are the best you’ve ever had with your friends.

Weekly Challenge for Teens August 22-29

The world doesn’t make it easy for us to guard our hearts. Especially during our single years, it can be tempting to follow God with a divided heart—one that longs for both romantic love and a love for Christ. Although we don’t want to be constantly fixated on the future, we stumbled upon an idea from authors Eric and Leslie Ludy that we feel can really help keep your heart pure and whole for your future spouse. And this week’s challenge is…

Write a love letter to your future spouse, and whenever you feel like your heart may wander—write another! It is a beautiful expression of patience during this season of singleness. Keep the letters some place safe and who knows—maybe you’ll be able to share these love letters with your husband or wife one day!

Weekly Challenge for Teens August 14- August 21

Generations of Virtue founder Julie Hiramine encourages you as a teen to fall deeply in love with the Lord during this season of your life. One of the most impactful ways of loving the Lord Jesus is worshipping Him. So here is this week’s challenge: write a worship song! Now, you may be thinking, “What! I can’t write! I’m not even a good singer!” But that doesn’t matter- it is the motive and intention of your heart that God looks at. So go for it- pour out your heart through worship to your First Love.

Did You Ask God?

Do you struggle with sin? Is there a particular sin you can’t seem to give up? Or perhaps it’s not something blatantly sinful, but something you lack and think you should have. Perhaps this absence is frustrating you. Consider this verse:

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

Recently I was getting frustrated at not being able to come up with ideas for something that has been hanging over my head for a while. You know the feeling: something very important is due at work or in school and you are completely drawing a blank. Finally in my frustration the Lord said “have you asked Me?”. Sheepishly I admitted, “no.” Of course God knows what to do for my predicament. He created the assignment, and He has all the ideas in the world. Certainly my problem is cake compared to all the things He handles any given day.

The point is this: Don’t hesitate to ask God! Whatever it is—whether it’s an assignment you can’t finish, a problem with a friend or your parents, an addiction, a habit you know is wrong, etc. It doesn’t matter what the issue is. The answer is always the same: Go to God!

~Megan

Weekly Challenge for Teens Aug 7th to 14th

Sorry we’re a little late with this one…

We live in a culture that condemns. Society in general offers little forgiveness for things like…being different, not having the latest iPod, laptop, bike, Wii. You get the idea. Even in the church you’ve probably experienced this. I know I have.

The lyrics to an old Christian song I grew up with have stuck with me: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. When people observe you – and believe me, they do -  what do they see?

1. Next time you see someone who drives you nuts – someone whose very presence seems to irritate you, think positively. Pray for them!! Thank God for creating them!! God isn’t partial and He loves them just as much as He loves you. This should humble you…

2. Think of something about them you’re thankful for. Aka: Your little brother just took your phone when you’ve told him a million times he had better not touch it or else…even though that was several hours ago, he’s apologized and given it back, you’re still ticked. Think of something good about him. Maybe 5. Or 10. Write it down.

3. Make praying for people on your D-list a habit. Praying and thinking positively about someone isn’t something that comes naturally to us, so this will probably be hard. Don’t give up! Wouldn’t you want someone doing the same for you??

They’ll know we are Christians by our love. Remember this. Because one day that person may wake up and realize how obnoxious they were. And they will remember how you treated them in spite of it.

They’ll know we are Christians by our love. Remember this.

Weekly Challenge for Teens July 31-August 7

Stay pure in our culture isn’t any easy thing to do- in fact, it takes work! Just like a well-trained athlete, purity of heart, mind, and body is a spiritual muscle group that needs to be developed. So lets get started! This week, make a game plan for how you are going to win in the battle for your purity. Outline things like:
- Places you will avoid
- Time limits and curfews
- People you will or won’t spend time with
…and more! Pray and seek the Lord about what boundaries He desires in your life, and watch it change you completely.

Reconnect: Capturing Your Daughter’s Heart, a Mother/Daughter Weekend

Purity Ring Design Contest!

Soldiers in God’s Army

Soldiers standing at attention

The following excerpt was taken from Developing Godly Character by Vinne Carafano:

“It’s easy to continue in the revealed will of God as long as things are going smoothly. If we have immediate proof that we’re on the right track and have instant success, we’ll keep on. We’ll also become spiritually soft and weak. Tough times make strong believers. In the Body of Christ, we have too many Cub Scouts and not enough marines. A missionary friend of mine once said, ‘Christians need to learn how to take a punch.’ Marines don’t go through boot camp at Disneyland. They go to Parris Island, where conditions are intentionally tough to make them tough. God calls us by many names in the Scriptures. We are His children, disciples, servants, and friends. Let’s not forget that He also calls us soldiers. What hardships have you endured for the sake of the gospel?”

I find this quote very interesting because it can be applied to your life right now. What have you done recently that has been hard or stretched you outside your comfort zone? Often we think doing something tough means going without food or being physically persecuted for the sake of the gospel. But there are everyday things and circumstances that we can willingly take on or endure right now, even from our homes and current situations. Some of the hardest things you will ever do are things that go against your will. Have you ever had to apologize to someone, and you didn’t WANT to do it? Or have you had to do a chore right away and you really wanted to watch a movie instead? Those things can be pretty hard. Do you do them anyway? The Lord said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). We don’t always realize this, but simply by doing the right thing that goes against your will is denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following the Lord. This is a good thing! This is very pleasing to God because it says “I really don’t want to do this, but I’m doing it because I trust that you have my best in mind and because I love you more than I love myself and my will”.

I challenge you to find something that you know is right and honoring to God (obeying your parents even when you think they don’t know best is a good example) and ask the Lord to help you do that thing. It’s ok to admit to God you don’t want to do something, but be sure to ask Him for help.

Following God has many parallels to being in the military. We don’t always know why we are being told by our commanding officer (God or a God-given authority) to do something, and we might often think our ideas are better, but in the end we must obey. And the faster we learn that God’s will is far superior to our own, the easier it will be to lay our will down and pick up God’s instead. If you want a really hard challenge, ask the Lord to give you opportunities to deny your will and do His instead.

~Megan