TEEN CHALLENGE

"Just because you are struggling doesn't mean you are failing"     I have this quote taped to my music stand. I love it because when I mess up the same measure of music for the 274th time I read it again and go back to playing. The Bible says that a just man falleth and rises up again.  It teaches us to persevere; in Galatians 6:9 it says " And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." We can't expect to accomplish everything we want the first time we try. When we learn to walk we all fall down. Just because a kid doesn't get up and walk around the first time they stand up doesn't mean that they've failed at walking. They're still learning.      The same is true with us and our spiritual lives. No, we cannot allow our sin to control us and use that as an excuse, but we also can't allow our mistakes to control us. We are covered by the grace of God, and we are all simply sinners saved by the bloo...

      Think back on the past week- how many times have you taken a few seconds to make someone's day a little bit better? There's so many small ways we are presented with every day that allow us to help someone out. How good are you at looking for those opportunities?      Some things seem so insignificant to us could mean a great deal to someone else. Taking ten minutes to entertain a couple toddlers so their moms can have a conversation might seem like nothing to you, but to a mom with young kids it could be a very special gesture. Taking a package for someone with an armload of stuff can be a big help. "Thank you" is powerful. Smiles are beautiful. "You look nice" can make someone's day. A cousin of mine once commented to me, "why is it so hard for us to compliment people?" If you think someone's hair looks good or if the color they're wearing looks good on them, just say it.      The Bible commands us to be kind and to encourage one...

      Last night someone asked me to answer a question for them. I started to answer and he stopped me to tell me that he didn't want my God answer, he wanted my answer. He said he just wanted to hear it from me. I said, "I can't answer without talking about God because that's part of who I am."      There are a lot of things that are a part of me, and they all show up in some way. My writing comes out in this blog every week; people know I'm a writer. My music spills out all day, every day, whether I'm playing an instrument or singing a song, people know I'm a musician. Is it that way with my Christianity? Is the joy of the Lord shining in my eyes, is the Gospel spilling out of my lips, and is His image clearly visible in me? We should be so saturated with spiritual things that they just spill out all over the place.      There was a guy I met about a year ago at work. I'd only talked to him a few times and it never got past small talk. But ...

      Last night I had a little bit of a disagreement with a friend of mine. It only lasted about a minute, and less than five minutes later there were apologies. I wasn't bothered by the fact that we disagreed, because I believe that I didn't say anything wrong. I was correct in what I said. My problem was the way I said it.      After the whole thing was over, I was talking to my other friend who'd been standing next to me and knew what had happened. "That's my problem!" I sighed. "I can be completely right and then I'm snooty about it."      No matter how right we are, it doesn't give us a right to be rude or haughty about it. Having the right attitude is just as important. When Jesus was on earth He never acted like a know it all (even though He literally knew it ALL) or rubbed things in people's faces. He was always kind and acted with humility.      We all are going to have those moments where we are simply in the right. ...

      The last few days I've been very aware of one of my greatest blessings; the people in my life. I have an amazing family. Godly parents, a crazy younger brother, more cousins than I can count and a super fun Grama who won't admit that I'm her favorite child. I have the most amazing friends I could ever imagine. My Pastor, pastor's wife, Youth Pastor and his wife are tremendous examples of a Godly life. As I've thought about this I've also been thinking about my life a few years ago. Most of my friends were an 8 hour drive away from where I live, and since we were trying to move to Tennessee and kind of had two churches, I felt pretty misplaced and downright lonely sometimes. Back then all I wanted was for our move to happen and to continue my life there. But then we started going to our church here, and suddenly it was home. I had everything I had been praying for and but nothing I had wanted.      God was watching everything that had happened. He knew...