teen1

First because they listen!

Adults often are not good listeners, and don't give teens the freedom to be themselves with out being critical or assuming.

They also are to quick to have an awnser that ends the conversation. I am sure they don't usually mean to to that, but that's what they do.

What teens need is better open cummunication, but especially respectful and deliberate listening by family members and others.

Talking about issues is very important to us even though it may not seem like it. We care about many things in our lives and in our society, and we love to talk about them to understand and to look for answers. We have to learn, so we can be apart of the solutions.

We need to know as much as possible if we are going to be the one's running things later, but we also need to have good imput from everyone not just the brush off as though we are to young and foolish.

But I hope we can all see that we need to know what God says about these issues or we just come up with the opinions of what we or others think, and then we make decisions that are wrong and sometimes very costly.

We love family life and would never want to be without it, but our friends are also very important to us, and what we need is to find a good and right balance.

Teens need parents to work with them on this one, unless the friends aren't living right and then the teens need to hear their parents concerns.

Then both of them together should see if there isn't a way to help those other teens out, to draw them in, and not push them away, and especially without even trying. And really pray for these other teens, we all need it!

Some of us are not as talkative as others, but that doesn't mean we don't like to talk or that were not as friendly as others.

So don't cut us off or leave us behind as though there is something wrong with us. Can't we be ourselves just like you get to be yourselves?

Some of us are really quieter or more private, but not in a bad way, so please understand us even if we are not as vocal all the time.

Practical jokes seem funny, but only to the one's doing them, have you ever noticed?

Even if the one they're pulled on seems to laugh and go along, inside it's not the same. It hurts, it causes them to be shamed in front of others - after all isn't that why it's done?

And it's always humiliating and that hurts. People who liked you or respected you would never do that to you. And since they wouldn't appreciate it done to them, tell me why would we ever get involved in such a thing.

Here is where one of Jesus statements really hits home clearly. " Do unto others what you would have them do unto you." In other words, "Don't do to others what you would not want done to you."

Differences are good, we like the fact that were not all the same, that life isn't all the same, that things are going to be new and bring changes.

That's a big part of life and were not afraid of that. In fact, most of the time we look forward to it without even thinking about it.

But we must remind ourselves and each other that whatever we do, what ever changes come, that they must be in line with God and His word. Changes and something new just for difference sake is not always good and can be seriously bad.

Safety in life and the adventure that life brings must be in line with a Holy God and what He says is right, true and acceptable. If we stay in line with that, we can truly experience and enjoy the life we have been given to live.

Remember also! Don't burn out on the web and these fun things in life, because there's so much else to do.

People to see, places to go, and the rest of your lives to live, that's what's out there. But as important as all that is, do it within the proper bounderies. As a young person (what you are so often referred to), experience is so very important as it's part of what we base our decision making on. And that is a major thing when dealing with people, situations and circumstances. You don't have as much of it as you really need to have yet, and especially for dealing with the world that we all now live in.

So enjoy it all as much as possible, and really live it, but be very, very careful the who, what, where and when you do it. Be wise and thoughtful about all the choices you make, and also about who you make them with.

It does matter alot you know, just as we can influence other people lives for the good or the bad, they can do likewise to us. And we cannot afford to be proud and believe that we will not need help, wisdom, advise or sometimes protection, so take advantage of it!

And most importantly remember to stop and take time every day to talk to the Lord. Pray for your needs, and rest in His presence and then go forward in faith. That will give you what you need to enjoy and handle everything out there and everyone in it.

Sometimes the steps we have to take in life seem like they are just too hard, too much, and too steep.

And they may be steep or many, but if we let the harder things in life build us up, then we become all the stronger for it and the next flight of stairs we have to climb will be alot easier.

Remember that you are tougher than you think, and where you are weak, Jesus has all the strength you will need to make it through. Just trust Him for it, He never fails us even when it seems like that's what's happening. He specializes in the miraculous and the unusual you know. " Chow "

Taking a trip? Sounds great and I pray you have a really great time!

Tell us about it and let us know where and what it was like. Maybe you can do some witnessing along the way and give us a witness report on the people you meet. The world is full of interesting people, and places, and things to do, just be wise, careful and be led by the Lord.

We'll post what you send if we can, we like to get good testimonies to share too, so have a great time.

Hey, I hear the sound! I hear it out there! The sound of the army of the Lord.

A Lot of His teen warriors are out and about and stiring things up. Praise God! This world needs some waking up.

Well, go for it gang, let the world know your there. There are alot of positive ways to shake the world up and you've got some of them. And once you let them know, they'll be glad you came. And even if some aren't, the Lord will be happy!

Remember, the older people get, the less they like change and challenges, so be patient, but keep going forward. You just have to make sure that the challenge you are giving to leaders is respectful, but don't be discouraged if they aren't interested, as that is so often how they react, especially at first.

How many of you have ever felt this stupid, well I'd bet some of you. But I know one thing that even when someone needs to learn a hard lesson they don't need to learn it this way.

The truth hurts, yes it does. When were wrong we need good discipline, correction and sometimes punishment, and consequences. But shame and belittlement is not what is needed and it doesn't work.

Some people believe that this is how you should be treated in order to learn, but the shame often is what breaks someone's spirit and causes them to be beat down and to even give up.

Many of the people in life aren't doing well for these kinds of reasons. What they need is someone to let them know that they are ok, to encourage them, and to show them they are worth something.

Let's tell them and show them no matter who they are, and also no matter where they are at in life that they are worth alot, that's what Jesus would do.

It doesn't mean we all don't have to learn the hard things in life or to be accountable sometimes. But it does mean that how you deal with people is very important and God is always looking for a way to lift up and not to knock down. Remember how He was treated when He was here!

And just in case you are one of those who comes from a very disfunctional family, (there are many you know), and feel your family doesn't really love you (maybe they don't know how, or are just that troubled in life themselves), we love you and there are many of us out here that would show you if we only knew you. And especially remember that the Lord loves you no matter what, and He means "no matter what"!