"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12.

That verse is for all of us Christian teens!

I guess this is something I needed to write for a long time. I need to write it for me too, because in this crazy world, I need to be reminded of God's commands. This page is more for those who are saved. So if you are interested in knowing Jesus Christ, just click here .

All right, now, where to begin? This is not very easy for me to write. I don't have many close teenage friends. I don't know exactly how teenagers act or what they're like. So I will just have to do my best. Also these were things that were on my mind when I wrote this. If there is any topic you'd like me to add, please e-mail me. Or if you think I need to do some more work on these, e-mail me.

God

God is (or should be) the most important thing in our life. He sent his son to die for us so that if we accept his gift, we could live forever in Heaven. But I guess a lot of us have a hard time serving him in this very weird world. It isn't easy knowing what God wants for us. He wants the very best for us. That's why he gives us rules and commands to follow. God gives us the Bible to tell us what we should and shouldn't be doing. The only way to know what is right and what isn't is to read the Bible daily. It isn't always easy to remember to read the Bible. But if we all just set aside some time every day for God and the Bible, then our lives could be much better.

About two years ago, my Aunt Barbara bought me this really cool Bible. It's called "Teen Devotional Bible: Devotions for teens, Written by teens". It's really awesome. It has just about everything in this Bible. It takes a verse from the Bible then has a devotion about it. It has little articles in the Bible about certain topics that you might be interested in. It is just so cool. In the back of the Bible it has "God's Plan for you" and a checklist if you want to read the Bible in a certain amount of time (like read it in a year).

Prayer is another way to get close to God. Talking to Him like He's sitting right beside you is really cool. After all He's your dad and when you have problems you go to your parents, right? Well, God wants you to come to Him too. Getting involved with church and a youth group can also help you grow in Christ. Or just spending time with other Christians can help you get closer. Unfortunately my church doesn't have a Youth Group, but we do have two Bible Studies and a church movie night every month. We just have an awesome time with the church members. You can do other things with other Christians, like go out to eat or go see a nice movie.

There's just all type of ways to get closer to God, Jesus and other Christians.

Parents

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12.

Now this one is very hard. It's not always easy to honor mom and dad. Our moms and dads know what's best for us. So if they tell us to clean our rooms or spend less time on the phone we should. Those are just some of the normal things parents want us to do. Parents are older (no disrespect to parents here), wiser, and they've been Christians longer than we have. So it's always good for us to listen to our parents no matter what. God's real pleased when we do (after all he made it one of the commandments!).

"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Now if your parents aren't Christians, then you should still do what they say unless it's not of God. Meaning that if they tell you to deny God, cheat, lie, steal, then you don't do it. Remember God and his commandments should always be first in your life. It pleases God to obey your parents, but not if it is doing something bad.

Boys

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:4-13.

I'm never sure what to write about when it comes to boys. I don't have any friends that are boys, let alone boyfriends. But honestly, I'm not looking for someone to date. I'm very happy with who I am and I think when I'm older, I'll find the right one.

That probably goes for all of us who want to find the "one". And we will. But I think the verse above tells us what true love is. I think when we have those qualities (patience, kindness, no jealousy, no bragging, consideration for others, etc.) then we are ready. So obviously, I am no where near being ready to date or even ready to think about marriage. I'm still enjoying my life the way it is now. Right now, I wouldn't change anything.

When we are ready to date or court, we must find a Christian.

"Do not be yoked with unbelievers. For what does righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.

It's not that God doesn't want us to have a good time, He just wants us to have the best. Unbelievers don't have the same beliefs as believers. Christians (believers) want to grow closer to Christ and when they get married, they want their children to be brought up in Christ. Unbelievers don't always want that. Sometimes they don't mind the Christians' beliefs, but most times it causes some friction. God wants us to find someone to spend the rest of our lives with. That means he has someone really cool planned for us.

Clothes

"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds appropriate for women who profess to worship God." 1 Timothy 2:9-10.

Now I have problems with this one. I'm not a really bold dresser, but I do want to dress cool. I look through catalogues and I think "Now, I'd like this and this and this." Some of those things in catalogues are good for us girls. Sure we'll get attention, but it will be the wrong type of attention. Yeah, people will be staring at me, but not the way I want them to. I want respect, so by dressing modestly is one of the ways to get it. (Isn't God smart?! It took me about six years to figure this one out. If only I looked in the Bible and found it myself! I wouldn't have wasted so much time.) But you can dress cool and not look trashy.

Paul wrote that we aren't to have gold or pearls or the expensive clothes. I don't think he meant that it's a sin to have something expensive or to wear it. I think he means there should be more to you than clothes. I think he means we're supposed to be like the woman in Proverbs 31:10. Now she must be super woman or something, because I know it'll take me a long time to be like that! But reading God's word everyday and doing what he wants will be a good way to start.

Tests
(Not tests at school, LOL!)

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12.

This world is a crazy place to live in. It's never easy to stay away from worldliness. It seems to be easier to go with the crowd and do what's cool. Believe me, I want to do the same, sometimes. But I have to remember, by following God's laws; I am better off in the long run. God has something special planned for all of us. He will put us through tests, but we must never give up.

When we are tested, we are actually being blessed. God trusts us and when he thinks we can handle it, he'll put us through tests. No matter what they are, none of the tests are easy. During these trials we may thing, "God, why are you putting me through this? What have I done to you?" What God is doing is building our faith up when he tests us. When it's all over, we'll look back and think; "Now that wasn't so hard. I'm glad God did that for me."

Sounds easy, right? I'm the first one to admit, it's not anywhere near easy. My family and I are being tested some now and I keep wondering when it will end. And it will end. So don't worry, you're not alone! Literally and spiritually! Remember Job, the guy in the Bible that was test beyond compare. He never gave up and neither should we. But most of all remember Jesus. He had to die on the cross for all of us. Imagine the pain and humiliation he was put through. His own disciple, friend, pal and buddy turned him in. Did he give up? Nope and neither should we.

Remember what Jesus said:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take me yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28.

He is always there for us!

MORE COMING SOON!