"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

​Recently a picture of a youth praying on the football field for a friend that was injured during the game went viral on Facebook.  In the book/movie "War Room," Miss Clara challenges Elizabeth to establish a prayer "war room" where she can go to pray for her family.  One of my favorite places to pray is  when I'm driving or going for a walk. That's the great thing about prayer... you can do it anytime, anywhere.  

Our lives can be filled with too much noise.  We're running around and doing too many things at once.  With so many distractions, listening to what God has to say is difficult.  It's important to find that quiet, still space in our lives where we can talk to God and He can talk to us.  There are so few places in the world where we can be truly alone with God and our thoughts, but I pray that you will find one and visit it often. 

Ask your teen...
​Consider the stories in the news.  Which ones stand out to you?  Which ones seem dark and hopeless?  Where in the news do you see the kingdom of God coming alive? 

​How can we pray for hope in hopeless situations, peace instead of fear, light in the darkness, or beauty in the midst of ugliness?

Encourage your teen...
​To find a prayer space.  It may be a physical space, a time, or an activity.  Whatever/wherever it is, make prayer a habit.

​5-Second Prayer...
Lord, teach us to pray - anytime, anywhere.  Amen.

 Hi Parents:
Advances in technology have made is possible to connect in seconds with people around the globe ("service that never sleeps") to learn and share information! Too often, I find myself using my smartphone as a way to distract myself, obeying the urge to play just one more game.  ​Sometimes, connecting through technology can be easier than communicating in person; but it lacks authentic emotion, sincerity, and our full attention.  Suffering relationships, and dwindling spiritual time are often the result. 

​Take time this week to consider you and your teen's use of social media.  Does your online presence accurately reflect your personality and beliefs?  Use your social networks honestly to express who and whose you are.

Using Media for Good...

1. ​Pray for your social media friends as you scroll through Facebook or Twitter at the end of the day. Take the time to write a brief message to those that have faced a challenge.
2. Use technology to lift your spirit.  Create (or find) a screensaver with a verse that is close to your heart.
3. Encourage others by posting positive messages.  We don't always know who is touched by our words, but we can be confident that God is able to use our words to speak hope into someone else's discouraging moments.
4. Help those in need.
5. Get to know your friends.  You may have many online friends if all you do is follow or like their posts, but it can't replace talking face-to-face.  Connection still requires a human element.

Challenge your teen...
​Brainstorm with your family and friends who share your faith.  See how may ideas you can list for using social networks as venues for sharing your faith story and encouraging others in their faith journey.
​
Prayer...
​God, give me guidance and discernment in my use of social media.  Let it be a source of encouragement to others and a medium for proclaiming the gospel.  Amen.

Everyone's heard the phrase 'good things come to those who wait.'  Some people might doubt its truth because they've gone through difficult times and constantly feel let down.  Why should they wait only to continue more suffering? 

Facing the future can look bleak; just turn on the news for five minutes and you know what I mean.  For teens, facing the future can be terrifying.  They ask, what college should I attend, what jobs should I apply for, how will I know this is the right choice?  Questions consume them causing confusion and stress.  As a result, we focus on our understanding of the world and our hopes for the future, rather than on God's plan.  In all our hectic planning and scheduling, we have trouble hearing God's voice, telling us the steps He wants us to take.  God's plan is perfect, but we need patience and dedication to discern the path He intends for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

What a wonderful promise from God!  It's a promise we need to remember when we are in the midst of stressing about the future. 
​
Journal:
​Have your child write about a choice they are making.  How do they imagine God working through their choice as they face the future.

Enjoy the Moment:
Have your teen write down three positive moments from each day, as a reminder to enjoy the present instead of focusing all excitement on future events.

Prayer:
​Lord, too often I feel it's my decision to choose the course of my life.  Today I need to ask, "What is your will?"  Open my eyes to see that your way leads to light and life, joy and peace.  Let me trust, as Jesus did, that you know what is best for my future.  Amen.

​Have you ever been inspired by great people? I know I have. You probably won't find me on the streets of Calcutta like Mother Teresa or preaching a sermon from the pulpit. I won't pioneer a life saving vaccine or climb Mount Everest.  But I try to be an encourager.  Although encouraging is such a simple thing, it can have a profound effect on those we encourage.  I am inspired by Barnabas.  He was a mate of Paul's and was known as an encourager.  He stood up for Mark, who had been a disappointment, and went out on a limb to encourage him in God's work.  (Read Acts 15:36-41.)  We can all do that!  We don't need great skills or amazing insight.  We don't need to be better than anyone else.  We only need to let God use us to encourage people, to show us who they are and how best to spur them on.  We can spend time with someone who is lonely or troubled.  We can be patient with someone who is a pain in the neck.  We can say thanks for a job well done, a sermon preached, a story shared. 

​We can also try to be a positive role model and to lead by example.  If we try our best to be like Jesus, others will aspire to do the same.   Strive to be selfless and look for ways to help others and to put them first.  I Corinthians 11:1 says "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."  All of us make hundreds of choices every day.  Most choices have no right or wrong attached to them - like what you eat.  But we always face decisions that carry a little more weight.  We don't want to do wrong and we don't want to cause others to do wrong, so how can we make such decisions?  Paul's attitude was not arrogant when he said "Follow my example."  Rather, he was trying to point these new Christians to Christ and what better way than to point them to a Christian whom they trusted. If you or your teen is choosing one course of action ask...

• ​Does it help my witness for Christ?
• ​Am I motivated by a desire to help others know Christ?
• Does it help me do my best?
• Am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care about the other person?
• Am I acting lovingly or selfishly?
• Does it glorify God?
• Will it cause someone else to sin?

Prayer...
​Lord, teach us to follow your lead, to give of ourselves and to show others your love.  Hold our hands as we try to lead others to you.  Remind us that you will guide every step we take.  Amen.

We know that life isn't fair.  Some people are born into affluent families or naturally have skills that make them more successful.  Others have lives illustrated by a series of tough stretches.  But time is the great equalizer.  Everyone in the world gets 24 hours in every day.  Of course, we spend those 24 hours in different ways.  Some of the time is taken up by things that we have to do - eating, sleeping, going to work or school.  But even these mandatory activities differ depending on how we spend the time.  Are we using all our time in ways that will glorify God? 

​I once heard that life is a race against time.  Time is a precious gift, one of the greatest God has given us.  Our biggest challenge is to make the best use of each of our days so that we honor God and make a positive difference in the lives of the people around us. 

So what does managing our time according to God's will look like?

1. Encourage your teen to start their day with prayer and time in God's word.  Offer your day to God and ask him how he wants you to use it.
2. ​Some people are list makers, so have your child start each day by writing down what they want to accomplish and set appropriate priorities.  
3. Stop and breathe.  The stress of being overburdened with too many activities and clubs can sometimes be too hard for teenagers.  Encourage them to take a breathe and slow down.  Help your child set priorities so that they are as effective as possible. 
4. The most important aspect of time management is seeking God's will.  Ask what God desires for your life, and allow God's direction to guide the way you spend your time.

​Prayer...
Thank you Father for the gift of time.  We know that every moment is precious and given to us to spend as we wish.  Help me to live wisely and thoughtfully, carefully weighing each decision, so that big or small, each decision is made with your will in mind.

​





I'm sure you have met people with amazing stories about how they came to Christ.  They may involve an out-of-the-country mission trip, an addiction story or perhaps a near-death experience.  If you're like me, your story is simple:  "I've been a Christian since I was 6. I've gone to church all my life." I know, boring, right?

So, how do we put our Christian faith into action to bless others?  Being a good witness can be...

• Offering our seat to an elderly man or woman as a sign of respect.
• Being willing spend time and really listen to a friend who is struggling.
• Sharing our faith journey (boring or not), including the times when your faith was weak, so that others may gather the strength to believe. 
• Being honest about where we are at in life, knowing that we do not have all the answers.

​Sometimes we forget that once we identify ourselves as a Christian, we are already witnessing.  Everything we do and say shows the world what a Christian looks like.  Even the smallest show of faith can have a huge impact.

Challenge your teen...
​Ask your teen how their words and actions can witness to the good news of Jesus Christ, especially beyond the church walls.  Challenge them to look for opportunities in their everyday life to show the world what being a Christian looks like.

​Prayer...
Lord, I don't want you on the sidelines, but in every part of my life.  show me, in every situation what to say and do so that other people will see you in me.  Amen.

I once heard a speaker say, "When you are up to your neck in alligators, it's hard to remember that your primary objective is to drain the swamp."  Alligators, or fear, are the things that cause detours in our life and make us unproductive and unsure of ourselves, those things that keep us from living fully.  Living in fear is real for so many.  It can manifest itself in different forms ... anxiety, fear and worry to full blown panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorders.  This fear can be triggered by an everyday situation or by a traumatic event.

​I love the image of God in Psalm 91:4.  Have you ever watched a mother hen scoop her chicks into her wings?  When fear grips us. God gathers us up in the safety of His love.  Fear can be crippling, but you never have to face it alone.  As a believer, you have the promise in Philippians 4:6-7... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Imagine never being anxious about anything!  It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school.  But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers.  Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.

Coping with fear...
Read Psalm 91 and have your teen repeat the promises.
​Try a breath prayer with your teen: As you inhale, pray, "God is with me."  As you exhale, pray, "I will not be afraid."
​Help your teen find scripture verses on fear.  Laminate them (credit card size) for them to keep in their bag or locker.  Here are a couple you may want to include: Psalm 23:4a, II Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 43:1-2, 4, Psalm 86:6-7. 
If you feel your teen may be suffering from more than ordinary anxiety, please contact a therapist or doctor.
​
​Prayer...
​Lord, so often I think I don't have what it takes to face the world.  I feel lonely, scared, and unsure of what to do.  I want to walk in confidence and to live fully; please show me how.
​Amen.