My family went on a trip to Niagara Falls. We’ve been talking about going for years, and it was an amazing time! But perhaps the most memorable moment for me personally was when we rode on the boat.
It took us directly into the mist. The water thundered around us, and the spray made it hard to see anything. I stepped back for a moment, and the sheer force of the mist made it difficult to keep my footing. I stared up at the water and realized just how small we are in the grand scheme of things.
We serve a powerful God. 3,160 tons of water flow over Niagara every second.1 That is an insane amount of water. But from a larger perspective, the falls is a small part of the earth, which is in turn a smaller part of the galaxy. It’s so hard for me to wrap my mind around how big our God is and how small we are.
But another thing that stuck out to me was visiting a butterfly conservatory in Canada. Butterflies are such beautiful creatures. They are all wonderfully designed. I saw shimmering blue green ones, pale white, small ones with red spots. All of them were different, yet designed perfectly by our Creator. I saw His fingerprints in each wing.
Yet God loves us each with an indescribable love. He knows all of our thoughts and dreams. He cares for every detail of our lives. He designed butterflies with beauty (more than is strictly necessary for survival). He controls the waterfalls. He is in charge, yet He cares so perfectly for us.
His love is powerful. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. May we always remember that.
Romance sometimes feels like it’s everywhere, especially around holidays such as Valentine’s Day. It’s beautiful, but it can be hard for those of us not in a romantic relationship. Maybe you’re even like me, and someone has remarked that you’re the only one your age who is single.
I can’t tell you if you should be dating. But for those of you who aren’t; I want to give you some encouragement.
You don’t have to be in a romantic relationship. You are not failing or any less valuable. What other people think of you does not define you. Our culture often sends the unspoken message that you need to be in a romantic relationship to find value, but the truth is, that value can only been found in Christ.
Your relationships will often be stronger for waiting. I’ve seen so much hurt caused by breakups and misunderstandings. Especially as teenagers, we still have to learn how to navigate relationships and love others well. Not many of us are ready to get married. Not all of us are even ready to handle the emotional rollercoaster of being in a relationship.
Romance isn’t something that should be rushed just because everyone else has a boyfriend or girlfriend. In fact, Song of Songs, the most passionate book of the Bible, has this warning woven into it multiple times.
Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you, do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time. ~Song of Songs 8:4
It’s not wrong to have friends of the opposite gender, or to have feelings for them, but those feelings can lead to the kind of love that should be reserved for marriage.
For those of you who are at a stage where you’re ready to date, but you’re still waiting for that someone special, you’re not alone. In the waiting, there’s still a Savior who loves you so deeply that we can’t even begin to understand.
Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. ~Psalm 139: 1-5
He truly knows you. He sees you, and He has good plans for you. He will always be with you. He hasn’t forgotten about you. He won’t leave you or disappoint you, no matter what others have done for you. And His love is so much better than any human love.
I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ~Ephesians 3:16-19
After an unplanned break due to life circumstances, I am now finally announcing the winners of the poetry contest! The submissions were beautiful, and I enjoyed reading through them. I hope you enjoy the winners just as much as I did! (Due to the amount of submissions received, I selected first place and second place)
First place: Mighty Gifts by Selah Cross
A beating heart, an able hand, What gifts are there more fine Than these to move and to command— How come they to be mine? You formed this hand, You wrought this heart, I thank Thee, Mighty God! You granted strength, You bade life start, My soul stands over-awed. Awake, Oh heart and hand; outpour Unending hymns of praise, And sing your thanks forevermore Upon the Harp of Days.
Second place: Describing My Blessings by Esther Dawn
How could I begin to describe my blessings? Are there words enough to describe each one? I can’t even count all I take delight in. Here are some, though I’ve only just begun:
Holy is the word to describe my Father. Perfect is the word to describe His word. Lovely is the word to describe creation. Beautiful–the flower, the star, the bird.
Peaceful is the word to describe a sunset. Pretty is the word to describe a rose. Vibrant is the word to describe all nature. Wonderful, each creature that lives and grows.
Breezy is the word to describe the autumn. Balmy is the spring, when the air is mild. Tender is the word to describe a mother. Precious is the word to describe a child.
Loyal is the word to describe my family. Lasting is the word to describe our love. Joyful is the word to describe salvation. Steadfast is our hope in our home above.
Glorious is the word to describe this world. Marvelous, the joys with which it is full. Humbled is the word to describe my spirit. Grateful is the word to describe my soul.
Thank you again to everyone who entered! I loved reading your poetry!
For many people, Christmas is either “the most wonderful time of the year”, or it is one of the hardest seasons. It’s the time of year when the absence of someone we love is so hard. It’s the time when you realize that traditions have changed. The lights that are so beautiful and the music that is so festive can become painful.
I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, Christmas is either sometimes or always hard for you. Maybe you’re like me, and you love the festivity of the season, but it’s bittersweet.
For me, Christmas day is an odd mixture of joy, peace, and grief. In American culture, Christmas can be so painful when you are missing someone you used to celebrate with or when you or someone you love is battling health conditions.
It’s been like that for me. I love the Christmas season. The lights, the music, the feeling of joy. But it also carries hard reminders. This Christmas season has been hard.
The good news is, Jesus sees. Christmas really is all about Him. He is there for you. He’s waiting to help you carry your pain. He’s always been there.
The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him. ~Isaiah 61:1-3
Even when circumstances are hard, Jesus is still with you. Trust Him. He will carry you through.
P.S. If you’re looking for Christmas stories that acknowledge the grief that comes with Christmas, while still bringing hope and light, I recommend The Christmas Collectors: volume 2. I have a short story published in it, and I’ve had the privilege of reading some of these stories early.
It’s that time of year again. The time when people count blessings and eat good food. At least for my American friends, the Thanksgiving + Christmas season can be chaotic. But it also gives us the opportunity to count our blessings.
We have so many good things that God has given us. But sometimes we forget that in the chaos.
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. ~Philippians 4:8
That’s why I’m running a poetry contest to focus on being grateful for what Christ had done for us.
The rules:
Your poem can be written in any style, as long as it honors God. Any experience is welcome.
Limit one entry per person
First, second and third place winners will be posted on the blog.
October 31st was a special day for me, and not because of Halloween. For me, it marked ten years of following Christ. It has been a journey, but one that I have never regretted.
I always knew about Jesus, but that day was the one that I committed to following him. He’s brought me through so many hard things.
What has He done for you?
Sometimes, we need to remember what God has brought us through. Maybe we think that we don’t have a story to tell. But if you’ve genuinely followed Jesus for any length of time, you have a testimony. Jesus has worked through you.
Maybe you don’t have a rags-to-riches story. I don’t. My story isn’t about my past. My story is about how God has grown me. It is the story of how I have been able to show God’s love to other people.
Seeing your story sometimes requires looking closely at your past. Maybe it means realizing how you got through that rough patch. It is hard to see what God is doing in some circumstances, but then when you look back, you can see what God was doing in your life.
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 NIV
He will work things together for our good. Even when things are hard, he still has plans for us. Those plans work together to create our stories. Our stories can be broken and messy, but they are so important.
What is your story? No matter what it involves, it matters. God is working in your life, and He has a purpose for you.
Sometimes, small things can turn into big things. For example, I wrote a short story for school. I had heard that an anthology wanted Christmas themed stories, so I wrote my assigned story about Christmas, just in case I wanted to enter it. I submitted it barely in time for the deadline.
Fast forward to today, which is the cover reveal for the anthology! My short story will be included, and it is my first fiction that will be published!
The Christmas Collectors: Volume II is a collection of stories by rising young authors about Christmas, healing, laughter, and the hope this season brings. If you want to support this anthology, you can sign up for the street team at this link and be entered into a raffle! https://skillfulpenpress.kit.com/bcc6e4a0b8
Back to the topic. As you can see, God can use small things like a school assignment. He can do big things we when we are faithful in the small things.
Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. ~ Luke 16:10
Are you faithful in the small things? It can be hard. Sometimes it seems like our efforts are wasted if people don’t notice them. Maybe you feel like no one notices if you use your words to encourage or if you read your Bible. Maybe you wish you had bigger things to do for Christ.
The truth is, we often overlook our training. It’s hard to take baby steps toward a big goal. It’s hard when you feel like you’re doing the same thing every day, but no one notices. It’s hard when you feel like your life isn’t having an impact.
But when we are faithful in the small things, we begin to see how God is working. Your words can encourage someone. You can do something kind for someone that makes their day.
The small things matter. What is one way that you could be faithful in the small things today? Do it.
There’s a lot of brokenness in the world. You do not have to go far to see it. Personally, I have had some hard things happen (along with some good things). But there is still light. I wrote this poem while I was thinking about this topic.
Keep going
This is for those who are struggling
Trudging through so many trials
This is for those who are broken
Holding to hope for more
This is for those who are hurting
Waiting for their healing
This is for those who are grieving
Waiting for tears to be dried
This is for those who are tired
Needing refreshment of the soul
This is for those who feel forgotten
Walking as if they’re invisible
This is for those who are searching
Knowing that there is much more
This is for those who keep going
Running to win the race
This is for those who fight darkness
Focusing on the light dawning
This is for those who are chosen
Bought by the blood of Christ
This is for those who keep following
When the reward seems far away
This is for those who remember
That they are seen and loved
This is for those who read this
Keep going; it will be worth it
There is still light. We can keep going. We have an eternal hope, and that is worth living for. This is my encouragement for those of you have had hard things happen, or who have been struggling. Keep going, Jesus sees you. He loves you. Let Him be your strength.
The world is hurting. We all know it. Darkness is everywhere. We see it every day. People are searching for light and hope.
Are you searching? Are you wondering if there is light left in the world? Are you looking for what is right in front of you?
There is light.
Even in the darkest night. Even when the news tells us that humanity has no hope left. Even when we can’t see the hope we have in Christ.
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” ~John 8:12
There is hope.
We have eternity ahead of us. God is still in control, and He has good plans for us.
“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11
God loves us. He will not abandon us. He is always with us.
We are the light of the world.
You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. ~Matthew 5:14-16
When we show love, we show light to a dark world. When we take time to care, we show Jesus. We have the Light that the world is searching for.
The cost of believing a lie is expensive. Maybe it seems harmless. But every lie you believe costs something.
We all have faced lies. I’ve believed them. You’ve believed them. The world is constantly throwing lies at us. Eventually it can become hard to tell what is true and what is a lie. Webs of lies can trap us.
Lies can be disguised as half-truths. They can seem appealing, like the right thing to believe. But they drag us down, weigh on us. We begin to believe that we have to live up to the lies. Our identity thoughts can become built on lies. When you look in the mirror, do you tell yourself something like this:
It doesn’t matter what you do?
You have to earn love?
No one understands you?
Your value is in what others think of you?
You are alone?
You aren’t good/pretty/attractive enough?
No one loves you?
None of those are true! There is a reason a lie is a lie. Lies are the opposite of truth, and Jesus is the Truth. Lies do not have to hold any power over us.
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“
John 8:31-32
God sees what you do. He sees when you try to live for Him.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24
Jesus loves you. He died for you. You do not have to earn His love.
God understands you better than you even understand yourself.
Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
Psalm 139:1-2
God created you with an immense value. You are priceless. You are bought by blood.
You are not alone, you always have Jesus.
In Christ, you are good enough. You are a masterpiece, created with what you need.
Jesus died for you. You are loved beyond measure.
As you can see from these examples, every lie has a truth that defeats it. Use the truth. Don’t get caught in a web of lies. Be who you were created to be. Know your identity and value.
Walk in the freedom Jesus purchased with His blood.
What does prayer mean to you? Is it telling God what you want or need? Do you only pray when you have something important to say?
Prayer is how we connect with God. And we sometimes over-complicate it.
In one particularly hard season, I started journaling my prayers. I was brutally honest with God. I told Him the things that I didn’t tell anyone else. Those prayers helped me feel so close to God. I was honest with Him, and I processed my emotions with Him. And when I started out with something hard, I usually began to see the light and I journaled truth, even if it was hard to remember in that situation.
This impacted my life because I genuinely connected with God. Yes, I was going through hard things. But I turned to Him in my pain. Some of the sweetest prayer times I have are when I pour out my heart to God.
I tell Him my hopes and dreams. He knows about my highs and my lows. When I am honest with Him, it makes life so much easier to handle. It doesn’t make trials go away, but it gives me the strength to get through them. And remembering what God has done for me makes me more grateful.
How often do you talk to God? I know that I do not have the kind of deep conversations that I want as often as I should. Sometimes we treat prayer like something on our to-do list, or a 911 call. But God is not an obligation or someone we should only turn to in an emergency.
God is the Creator of the universe. He made us for a genuine relationship with Him. We were created to connect with Him. We are not made to talk to God once a week or only at mealtimes.
God wants us to know Him. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants to hear from us. You can tell him all the little details. You can confess the secrets that you haven’t told anyone else. He already knows. He wants you to talk to Him about them.
But since He already knows, what is the point? Consider this: if your friend was involved in something that made the news, would you still want to hear what happened from their perspective? I hope you do! You probably want to hear what they were feeling or thinking, and you want to know how it affected them.
It is similar with God. Yes, He knows, but He still wants to hear from us. That is how we build a relationship. If you never talk to someone, you are not going to have a strong relationship with them.
God loves us. He wants us to tell Him how we are feeling. He is interested in the small details and the big events. Nothing is too small or too big to pray about. So pray about your life!
God is always ready to listen. He is never too busy or caught up in important conversation. He loves you. He is waiting for you.
I’m excited to join in the cover reveal for The Restitching of Camille DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin releasing from enclave publishing in February 2026! This is the second book in the YA fantasy duology, The Rivenlea Sphere, and the hardcover is available to preorder today.
Emlyn DuLaine didn’t mean to bridge the storyworlds together, but now she faces an impossible task: sever the connections without destroying the stories themselves. To fix Rivenlea once and for all, Emlyn must find the secret flaw buried deep in its foundation. Waking from a seven-year sleep, Camille DuLaine finds herself trapped in a storybook, held as bait by someone who knows exactly how to lure her sister. As Emlyn races to solve one mind-bending puzzle after another, she uncovers a plan seventeen years in the making. The universe is fractured—and she might be too late to save it.
You can preorder your copy on Amazon, or straight from Enclave for a 20% discount.
What you may or may not know, is that I write Young Adult fantasy.
I have always loved reading books set in fantastical worlds. I grew up in worlds made of books and words. Now, I read books by authors such as Lindsay A. Franklin and Kara Swanson. There is a layer of depth in fantasy books. Seeing things that should be impossible is amazing. (I still have not entirely given up hope that I can find a door to Narnia in my closet. If you find any magical portals, will you let me know? Please?)
But I know that not everyone likes fantasy. Some people think that it is evil. And considering the fact that I also write Christain non-fiction, which is very different, I should probably address that.
I cannot tell you if you should or should not read fantasy. And there may be different levels of fantasy that you feel comfortable with (or that your parents are comfortable with). I personally do not read books with certain content that dishonors God.
But fantasy is worth reading. Not all fantasy is the same, but well-written, God-honoring fantasy has some awesome benefits.
It teaches us. Sometimes it is subtle, like understanding how someone else sees the world. Sometimes it is major themes that reach our hearts and speak to us. Fantasy can be easier to relate to, because it does not feel as much like an attack on us, especially when it is some magical problem that is not an exact reflection of our lives. Instead, it shows us truth, in ways that we might not have seen without dragons and knights.
It builds friendships. No, I am not just talking about fictional friendships, even though those are awesome too. I am talking about the friendships with people who have read the same books as you have. If you have ever met someone who loves your favorite book, you know what I am talking about. And fantasy books inevitably have lots of things to discuss with other fans.
It is just fun to read. This does not need a lot of explanation. There is something magical about opening a book and being transported to another world. The feelings of not being constrained by reality are amazing. Sometimes you just need an escape, and fantasy books are one of my favorite ways to do this.
It changes us. I touched on this earlier, but when fantasy shows you something new, it changes you. Reading about a hero who refuses to let hard circumstances defeat him gives you extra courage. Seeing someone forgive touches your heart. It shows us more about God and our relationship with Him. I could give a thousand different examples, but then you would keep reading this post instead of fantasy.
Fantasy is not all bad. It has value. It is worth reading and writing. I write fantasy because I have been touched by it, and I want to touch others in the same way.
Love is a big topic. But what is our definition of love? Do we think of it as a romantic attraction? That tends to be what the world markets love as. But love is so much more.
“This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.”
John15:12-13
True love is what Jesus did. He loves us so much that He died for us. He gave up everything because He loved us.
That is what true love is. It is deep and strong. It values others. It is putting others before you. That is hard to grasp in a self-centered world. Culture tells us to look out for our own interests, but Christians should be different.
Our job is to reflect Christ. He loved others in everything He did. After all, he did not wash feet because He loved washing feet, He did it because He wanted to set an example for us.
Love should be sacrificial, but it also is not limited to the people that are easy to love. We still have to love those who hurt us. This is so hard, but it is when we are most like Jesus.
He gave His life for the people who were murdering Him. That is the kind of love that we are called to imitate.
It is a hard love, but a real one. When we can love others in spite of what they have done, we reflect Christ. And sometimes, a little love is what someone needs. Love can transform people.
Dare to show radical, tough love. Love those who the world deems unlovable. The world needs it.
I am assuming that you are not physically a reptile, since you are reading this post. But are you acting like one?
Chameleons change colors to blend in with their surroundings. They do not want to stand out. They hide in their surroundings, attempting to be invisible. Do we do the same thing?
Blending in may not seem like a bad thing. After all, you do not want to draw attention for the wrong reasons. But sometimes you need to stand out. As Christians, we are not supposed to be like the world.
This world is not our home. We are called to live set apart for God. We are not made to live like the world does. Our calling is higher. Earth is only our temporary home.
If you look at many of the people who the world respects, are they truly happy? Or are they so focused on chasing happiness that they never are satisfied?
If you only focus on yourself, either in a belittling or a prideful way, you are not going to have a life that matters. You are called to live for Christ.
Christians should be different. We should be the ones who love others, not the ones who do what everyone else does. Because the world is not loving. We all have experienced the brokenness. Christians should bring healing. We should focus on bringing Christ’s love to others, not on trying to gain popularity or fit in. (Not to mention that popularity is really hard to achieve and keep.)
Embrace your identity. You can stand out. You were made for more. I know the feeling of just wanting to fit in, but it is like chasing the wind.
Don’t be a chameleon. You do not have to completely change your personality to make others respect you. You are perfectly made. This does not mean that you will not be made fun of for following Christ. But Christians are called to be different. We have eternal rewards.
The God of the universe wants a relationship with us. His love is infinite. He gave us His word so that we could know Him in an intimate way. The way relationships are built is by spending time with and getting to know the other person. We all know that, but do we truly act on it?
Recently, I was listening to the song “Dusty Bibles” by Josiah Queen. (If you haven’t listened to it, you should.) It is heartbreaking. Heartbreaking because it is true for so many people.
The song is essentially about how so many people are not reading their Bibles, but they are spending time online. I know people who spend hours online, and don’t read their Bibles.
God wants us to get to know Him. But too often, we ignore Him, saying that we are too busy. Are we really too busy, or is it just not our priority? Too often, spending time with God gets shoved out of the way.
There is a misconception that you have to have lots of time to read your Bible. But how much time do you spend on social media? How much time do you spend on your hobbies?
You probably have at least ten minutes that you could carve out to read your Bible. Can you read a chapter in the car? Listen to a chapter while you do chores?
You do not have to spend an hour a day reading your Bible (although that would be great). It is about building a relationship. You can start by reading a few verses a day, then build up to a chapter. Or maybe two chapters.
God’s word is life-giving. It contains wisdom and encouragement for everyday life. Knowing God’s word helps you know what to do in a tough situation. It helps you know who you are. It answers tough questions. It gives wisdom. It changes your heart to become more like Christ.
The benefits really are amazing.
So why do we still let our Bibles collect dust? We make time for the things we really want to do, so why can we not make time for the God who created us? We would not have any time at all if God hadn’t given us life.
I challenge you to spend time with God daily. You won’t regret it.
Do you ever feel unseen? Or do you feel unheard? In our world today, many of us feel unknown or even invisible. Do we really matter? Does anyone see the struggles that we face?
These questions can nag at you, causing doubt and depression. They can steal your joy. But they can be combated with the truth.
Psalm 139:1-4
Lord, you have searched me and known me.You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.
God sees you. He hears you, even before you open your mouth to say a word. He knows you, even better than you know yourself. Let that truth sink in. Build your foundation on what God says about you. The God of the universe sees you. He is intimately acquainted with every part of you.
He knows your thoughts. No one, no matter how well we know them, shares that same intimacy. Your friends don’t always know what you are going to say. Your parents don’t know all of your thoughts. The people who love us most cannot even come close to the love God has for us. He created love, and He is the perfecter of love.
This kind of love is deeper than we can understand. Every glimpse of it is overwhelming in the best possible way. We are seen. We are known. We are heard.
God will always love us. He will always love us with a depth that goes beyond human understanding. He cares for you.
The God of the universe sees you. You are His treasure.
Freedom. All of us want freedom in some way or another. We talk about it a lot, but do we understand it? What does freedom in Christ look like?
When we believe in Jesus, He frees us from sin and death. His blood redeems us, and pays the cost for our freedom. This truly is the best freedom anyone could want. Death and sin do not have a hold on us anymore.
We should not take this lightly. Our freedom is eternal, but it is blood bought. The Son of God gave His life so we could be free. He paid the ultimate cost, the least we can do is not abuse our freedom.
What does abusing our freedom look like? It might be more familiar than you have realized. Using your salvation as an excuse to sin is abusing your freedom. Maybe we think that we do not need to worry about what we do because Jesus will forgive us.
That is not how salvation works.
If you are using freedom as an excuse, you may need to rethink your relationship with Christ. Our salvation should be rooted in love for Jesus and a desire to please Him. He loves us, and he gave up everything for us. That is not something to take lightly. It is a life changing truth. His death should not just be used for our selfish desires.
Other people are under the illusion that Christianity is a bunch of rules. But it is not. It is a relationship built on love. The rules that people are thinking of are founded in love. For example, the Ten Commandments all relate to loving God and others. And as Christ followers, our goal should be to show Christ’s love to everyone we meet. Living for God is also loving others. This is true freedom.
Christ’s sacrifice leads to complete freedom from sin. We do not have to be ensnared by our past or by addiction. We are free. Nothing can take away Jesus’ love for us. We do not have to worry about living for the world, because we are redeemed. We are new creations. Our freedom is complete and perfect. We have true freedom.
What comes to mind when you think of worship? You probably think of something to do with music. But many things can be worship.
We should do everything for the glory of God. Maybe that looks like loving the people we come into contact with and treating them like Jesus would treat them. Even your hobbies can be worship. For me, writing poetry is one way I worship God. I can reflect on His goodness and majesty while writing out my poetry.
For you, it might be hiking. Maybe you feel close to God when you see His creation. You might be amazed at God’s goodness when you hear a bird sing. Or maybe you are an artist. Art is a great way to worship (and something I could write an entire blog post on).
No matter what your preferred hobby is, you can probably find a way to worship God through it. Maybe it is literally writing about God’s goodness, or maybe it is just something that makes you feel close to God. Maybe you feel that this is what God created you to do. Just reading this might have given you an idea of what it is for you.
Worship can look different, but at the heart of it all is glorifying God. We can worship God each day, in all that we do.
Identity. We all have an identity. Whether good, bad, or something in between, we all have one. The world tries to control our identity. Magazines, movies, TV shows, and books all try to form our identities. Advertisements often play on identity. Some claim that you will be more popular or prettier or more athletic.
Maybe you have fallen for the lies that say you are not good enough. The ones that say you do not have a purpose. That you are unseen.
What does the Bible say about identity? One of my favorite Scripture passages, Psalm 139 talks a lot about identity.
Psalm 139:14-15
For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
You are wonderfully made. You are a treasure, carefully crafted by the living God. He knew everything about you before you even drew your first breath. You are a masterpiece.
Ephesians 1:4-6
For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
You were chosen before the world began. You are a child of the living God. You are holy. You are seen, loved and known. Nothing anyone says can ever take away what God has done for you. Your identity was determined before the world began. God has a plan for you.
When your identity is founded on these truths, it is so much easier to face the lies of the world. Know your identity and rest in it.
Last week, we talked about how to identify your testimony. But now maybe you are wondering if your story really matters. Can your testimony impact people? Maybe you have struggled with this. I know I have.
Let me make one thing clear, your story does matter. Even if you do not see the impact your story can have, your testimony matters. You can share your testimony. Even if you think your testimony is insignificant and will not impact anyone, it has a purpose. It will impact someone.
Before we talk about your story, let’s talk about stories in general. Stories are powerful. Movies, books, and some video games all use stories, and that is often why we enjoy them. What do you tend to remember from sermons? If you are like me, you remember the illustrations and stories. The Bible is a true story, and it is the most powerful book in history. We relate to stories. Stories can literally change us. And a testimony is a story. A beautiful, true story about how Jesus changed you.
Maybe your story is about how God helped you through loneliness. I know a lot of teenagers who struggle with that. Sharing that part of your testimony with someone dealing with loneliness could encourage them or even change their life.
Maybe you have struggled with and overcome sin. How you have overcome sin is a very powerful story, especially to those currently struggling with it.
What is a part of your testimony that others can relate to?
God has done something in your life, and you can use that story to help others with what they are going through. Your story might be what someone needs to hear. God can bring beauty out of the brokenness. And there is probably brokenness in your story, since we live in a broken world.
Your testimony matters. You can use your testimony to bring others to God. Share the story God has given you.
Does your story matter? Maybe you do not have some dramatic conversion story. In fact, if you are a teenager, you probably do not. But how can you use your simple story to help others? Do your experiences matter? Or when you do have a powerful testimony; how do you use it? And what exactly is a powerful testimony? I know I have struggled with these questions in the past.
In these articles (yes, there will be more), we will unpack these questions. As a Christ follower, knowing the answers to these questions is so important.
First, what is a powerful testimony? It is just the story of what God has done in your life. You have a story. No matter what it is, you have one. My story is different from your story. Your story does not have to be complicated to have an impact.
If you want your testimony to impact people, first you need to figure out what your story is. Why did you decide to follow Jesus? What was your life like before then? (If you were little and have no idea how it changed, you can leave that out.) What has God done for you? How have you seen Him working in your life?
Think about questions like those. Go deeper into the answers. This can be the foundation of your testimony. It does not have to be complicated. If you are like me, your testimony may be more about how you have grown in your faith and what God has done in your life. It might also be helpful to write down your thoughts and then organize them.
But what if you cannot think of anything God has done for you? No matter who you are, God has been working in your life. God is always working, but sometimes we do not see what He has done until we think about it. What trials have you gone through? What have you learned from following Jesus? How have you changed? Or has anything in your life changed?
Before you can share your testimony, you have to know what your testimony is. Spend a few minutes thinking about your testimony. Even if you do not plan on sharing it right now, just realizing what God has done in your life can be so impactful. And you never know, maybe sometime soon you will have the chance to share your story! If you do, you will be grateful that you already thought about it.
How complicated is faith? Have you ever wondered? Sometimes it seems like faith is something complex and hard to understand. You might even be under the impression that you must have some mystical “ah-ha” moment. What if faith was simple? What if a child could easily understand it? As some of you know (or just guessed) it is simple.
To prove my point, let me tell you a little bit of my story. I officially accepted Christ as my Savior when I was in kindergarten. I was baptized soon after that. My reason for sharing this is to show you that kids do understand. My faith was real.
Sometimes it is easier for kids to believe. Kids do not need to have everything explained. I teach preschoolers, and while I get lots of questions, “how do I know God is real?” is not usually one of them. (Although I do get some interesting ones.) They believe what I teach them. They do not have to have the fact that God is real explained to them. They just believe it.
Maybe this seems naive. But it is beautiful. What if you could have that kind of faith? The faith that knows that God loves you at all times. The faith that does not need to have everything explained. The faith that knows God is real.
That is the kind of faith we can have. Because guess what? You do not have to have all the answers to have faith. You do not have to be perfect. Because Christianity is loving Christ and surrendering your whole life to Him. It is knowing that you have done wrong. It is repenting of your sins. It is being made new in Christ.
The key piece is that you strive to follow Christ as best as you are able. It is hard to completely change overnight. Bad habits have to be overcome. Faith is a war, not a battle. Fight each battle in Christ. He is with you, and He strengthens you. He is with you in the trials. Think of a small child. If they disappoint their parents, do they worry that no one will ever love them again? No, they do not.
Why do we treat God as if we can fail Him? He is so much bigger and greater than us. He loves us deeply. Our sin pains Him, but if we return to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will cleanse us.
Trust Him. He is a Good Father. He loves you enough to die for you. He created you. You are His masterpiece. You can go to Him with the faith of a child. You do not have to impress Him. He already paid for you. You are His.
Words have a huge impact. We use them all the time without thinking about it, but they matter. They can encourage or discourage. They can build up or tear down. They can help or hurt. You get the idea. We have all had words impact us in some way or another.
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.
Words can encourage and help people. So words can be good. But what about talking too much? Did you know there are verses about that too?
Proverbs 10:19
When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent.
Ouch. I do not know about you, but I do not want to sin. The thought of sin being unavoidable with many words is hard. We should be careful about what we say. Careless words can cause us to sin. I want to use my words to glorify God. Take a look at this verse.
Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
Words can cause destruction for the one who spoke them or they can rescue the person who spoke them. Words are important. Really important, as you can tell from those verses. You know that. You have seen it in your own life.
What can you do to use your words wisely and apply these verses? First, think about how you use your words. If you do not know what is wrong, you cannot fix the problem. Then, think about what you could do to change how you use your words. What could you do to use your words for good in that situation?
The world says that teenagers’ words don’t matter, but they do. Our words impact people. You can inspire others. You can bring hope and joy. You can change the world with your words. Every word we say is going to have an effect. What effect are your words having?
Yes, you read that right. But this letter isn’t from me to you. At least, not exactly. It is from scripture.
Dear child,
Do you know how much I love you? I see you when you feel unseen. I understand everything about you. Every thought you have, I know it. Before a word is on your tongue, I know all about it. I am aware of all your ways.
When you feel alone, I am with you. My love is so big and so great. I am with you no matter where you go. You may feel lost in darkness, but I am with you. If you look to me, I will guide you. I am your strength. I am your Friend. I am your Healer and Helper. I am your Comforter.
My child, I know you. I created you. You are my masterpiece. You are wonderfully made. You are not a mistake. I created you on purpose, for a purpose. I look at you with love, not anger.
Nothing you do is hidden from me. Your sin does not change my love. Your flaws do not define you. Because I love you, I sent my Son to die for you. He took the punishment you should have had. You had chosen the path of death, but I redeemed you. All because I love you.
You may have been disappointed by what the world calls love. Do not let that diminish your perspective of my love. My love is deeper than you can understand. It is greater than anything in this world.
My love is perfect. It will never disappoint you. My love is faithful. I will never leave you or abandon you. My love is constant and truthful. I will never deceive you. My love is abundant and good. My love provides everything you need. You do not have to earn my love. All you have to do is accept it. When you accept my love and walk according to My ways, you will begin to see what I have in store for you. I have good plans for you. Plans that give you hope and a future. My dear child, I love you.
Thankfulness can be hard. After Thanksgiving, it can be easy to forget that we are supposed to be thankful. Why should we even bother to be thankful? For one thing, thanksgiving is the way to God.
Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Sometimes just focusing on what God has done for you can lift your mood and bring you closer to God. Try thanking Him for five things. Go on, I’m waiting. Seriously though, try starting your prayer time by thanking God. Need some ideas? Look around you! He gave us breath and life. And most importantly, He sent Jesus. The Gospel is the best news ever, so there is nothing better that we could thank Him for. His gift is the most amazing story ever, and it impacted all of eternity.
How can you befriend your betrayer?
How can you love the unlovable?
How can you do the impossible?
How can you mend broken hearts?
How can you live only to die?
How can you heal those past help?
How can you bear an unbearable weight?
How can you love your enemy?
How can you forgive your murderers?
How can you die for your executioners?
How can you rise from the dead?
Do you know that Jesus did?
(In case you haven’t figured it out, I write poetry.)
He did all of that for us. When you realize that, it is a lot easier to be thankful He did so much for us. We have a place in heaven waiting for us. That is an amazing reason to be thankful! When we understand that we have eternity waiting for us, the trials on earth seem a lot easier to deal with. So find something to be grateful for today! It really does change things.
You already know that life can be hard. We live in a broken world, and there are trials and storms. Even small thunderstorms can feel like hurricanes when we are in the middle of them. It can be so hard sometimes to stay faithful when we are going through something hard, but it is possible. When you are going through a storm, you can come out stronger in your faith.
The simplest way to stay faithful in the storms is to lean on God. Talk to Him about what you are going through. I cannot overstate how helpful it is to pray about what is happening. You can journal your prayers too. Sometimes it helps to get everything on paper. I have a journal that is mostly prayers about what I was having a hard time with.
Another habit that is so important is reading the Bible. God speaks to us through His Word. Our relationship is so much stronger when we know the Scriptures. There are also so many verses that can speak to you about what you might be going through. Don’t think that reading the Bible is not necessary. It will get you through so many tough times in life. I know it has helped me.
Listen to worship music. There are so many beautiful and encouraging songs. Find some that speak to and encourage you. If you need a place to start, try some of the songs from your church. When you are having a hard time, worshiping God can sometimes take your eyes off the storm in a way that nothing else can.
Talk to someone you trust if possible. Yes, some situations you cannot talk about. But most of the time you can. Try to find someone who is wise and trustworthy. Now, I am not saying you should gossip if someone else is hurting your feelings. I am saying you can ask for prayer.
These four things have helped me through hard times. I hope that they help you just as much!
This world can be crazy. So many things demand your attention. Sports, school, jobs and friends are just a few examples. It can be hard to find time to read your Bible or pray. Or maybe you do find time, but you can’t seem to focus. I know I have been there before.
But this is not what we were designed for. We were designed for a close relationship with the God who created the universe. The same God who designed the galaxies created us. The God who created everything knows us. He wants us to spend time with him.
What do you spend time on? You probably have friends or family who you hang out with. Do you ever think about the fact that God wants to spend time with you like you spend time with your friends? This does not have to be complicated. Besides reading your Bible and praying, you can play a worship song while you are in the car. Or you can do what I do and write or read something inspiring. Tell him about your day. Ask him for what you need. Thank him for the small blessings and the big ones. Find ways to focus on him. He deserves our attention. Because He is:
The Man who died
Spectators threw taunts at Him
Not knowing He was the God who cried
The God who sweated blood for them
His body broken for our sin
Blood poured out to heal
Death thought it secured the win
Darkness didn’t know His zeal
Flicker of hope breaking through the night
The Son of God breathes again
With that breath he makes all things right
His life gives us eternal gain
He sacrificed so much for us. He gave up everything He had so that we could live with Him. He did what was thought impossible for us. He defeated death for us. He loves us so much. He gave us more than we deserve. His love is immeasurable. I want to serve someone who loves us, don’t you?
Have you ever looked through a kaleidoscope? As you turn the colored lens, the colors reflect, creating gorgeous patterns. There are different kinds, but I had one that had a plastic lens with colored beads in it.
I remember looking through the kaleidoscope and thinking that I would never see that exact pattern again. That may not be able to be proved, but I felt like it was true. Every single time I turned the lens, I saw a beautiful new pattern.
Now think about yourself. You are unique. I will spare you the scientific details, but there is a 0% chance that there will ever be another you. You are one of a kind. You are a masterpiece.
You are not someone else. Just like a kaleidoscope reflects different patterns, we all reflect Jesus in different ways. Jesus’ light creates beauty in us.
Different situations may bring out different parts of your personality. That does not mean something is wrong with you. Yes, you will mess up. But that does not take away from how amazing you are. You are beautiful. Just turn your lens. Repent and walk in the forgiveness God wants to give you.
Psalms 139:14
I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
God created you. He doesn’t make mistakes. You are his masterpiece. And masterpieces are priceless. Accept your worth and beauty. If you made something, would you be thrilled if it told you that it was not good enough? (Apart from the fact that it could talk.) You would probably be hurt or offended, or maybe just sad.
God values you. You are not helping him by devaluing yourself. You are a priceless treasure. You are carefully designed to be unique and reflect God to a hurting and broken world.
God can shine through your brokenness. He can heal your heart. You are amazing, and you are unique. Your life can be a kaleidoscope. Let God shine his light through you. He will make you beautiful.
Did you know that you have an inheritance from Christ?
Ephesians 1:14
The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
That is an amazing thought. We have not only have an eternal, glorious inheritance, but we are coheirs with Christ. We have a share in what Jesus earned. And if you forgot what He earned, it is basically everything good.
Of course, we still have to endure the suffering but notice the promise that comes with it. If we have the suffering, we also have the glory. Even a small part of Jesus’ glory would be amazing, but we get more than that. We are coheirs.
Coheirs do not just get a tiny part of whatever is rejected by everyone else. We have a share that is set apart for us. Part of our inheritance is God’s infinite love.
We even have a down payment. Our down payment is the Holy Spirit. Since we have the Holy Spirit, why do we hesitate to ask for more of it?
Maybe we picture God as annoyed if we ask him anything. But the truth is that he is not annoyed. A more accurate picture would be of God smiling and saying “I have been wanting to bless you with that! I am so glad you are finally asking for it.”
God gave us his only Son, but we sometimes act like God would be unwilling to give us something that is so easy for him. He is powerful. We cannot empty his store of good things. He loves and wants to bless us. He is our Father.
Matthew 7:11
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.
You probably give good gifts to people you love. That is not something that is hard to understand. God loves us infinitely more than we can imagine. So why would he be upset if we asked him for something good?
Our definition of good may be different from his, but he will not withhold what we need from us. That does not mean that if we really want a new game system, he will give it to us. It does mean that if we ask for more of things like the fruits of the Spirit, he will give them to us.
Ask him if you need wisdom. Ask him if you need help with self control. Ask him if you need more joy. He is not going to refuse you. You may not see it immediately, but he will answer you.
Accept your inheritance. He has already given it to you. Ask for what you need, and watch how he will answer.
Do you ever think that you have to have something important to say before you pray? Maybe you think that there are so many people with urgent needs. Does God really want to hear about your small problems?
The short answer is yes. He absolutely wants to hear about every little detail of what happened at school today. He loves hearing from you, even if it is just a recap of your day.
If you are not convinced, here is something for you to think about. If you are hanging out with your friend and you ask them about their life, are you going to be surprised if they talk to you? Hopefully not. You were asking because you care about them.
God loves us so much more than we can ever imagine. So why do we think he would be upset if we talked about something that we think is not important? Also, I am guessing that if you are thinking about praying about something, it is probably important to you. And if it is important to you, then it is important to God.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.
Did you catch that? We can cast all our cares upon God, because he cares about us. Of course, the first part also points out that we should do this with humility. Humility does not mean we think less of ourselves, it means we think of ourselves less.
God does not need to hear all about how great you think you are. He already knows how amazing you are because he made you! So tell him how you felt when you received the award, but you probably do not need to list all the great qualities you have that helped you win the award.
Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
If you are struggling with anything, no matter how small it may seem to others, you can pray about it. The Bible never says that you have to have an important request to pray. It says to pray about everything. Not just some things. Big and small.
If you are worrying about something, stop and pray about it. God hears you. He will always answer you, even if it is not the answer you were expecting.
You can pray about your grades. You can pray about how you feel. You can pray just to say thank you for the great day you had at school today. You can (and should!) pray about the bad news you just heard.
God wants to hear from you about everything. He wants to talk to you. Tell him about your struggles and your successes. He is always listening. Just talk to him.
