This is some parenting tips from teen life ministries:
1. Explain "As You Love Yourself."
With so much talk of humility, most teens think that means to hate
yourself. Denying self and hating self are two entirely different
things. Explain how God wants teens to "love your neighbor as
yourself." Loving self doesn't mean being in love with yourself. It
means that we have a good self-image, a God-image. We are important
not because of who we are, but whose we are.
Whether the world thinks we're geeks or freaks, weirdoes or wackos,
only God's view and vision of us counts. And to Him we are worth
the price of His Son hammered to a cross.
2. Admit Your Insecurities.
As a parent, you may appear larger than life to teens. They may
look at you and think, "I'll never have it together like that." We
know the truth. We're not together. We have struggles, bad hair
days, and poor complexions at times.
When it's appropriate, share the things that cause your self-esteem
to shrink. Share as well the ways that the Lord strengthens you
when you don't feel so hot.
3. Encourage Self-Talk.
Tell your teens to stand in front of the mirror every morning and
night and repeat, "God don't make no junk," or "I'm made in God's
image." It might sound silly, but we really do believe what we say
to ourselves.
It may be impossible to get your teen to repeat that phrase out
loud because of the risk of being teased. Write a few God-esteem
sentences on a 3 x 5 card and give to your child to carry with him
or her.
4. Help Teens Challenge Themselves.
Get your teens proactive in the war against insecurity. A girl
might decide that she will stop buying magazines that promote the
"perfect look." A guy might choose to stop listening to music that
degrades God's creation by elevating suicide over life.
In place of those negatives, your daughter may want to start
reading a Christian magazine for young ladies, while your son might
toss out his CD collection and replace it with Christian artists.
We are what we absorb, so challenge your teens to challenge
themselves.
5. Provide Ways For Teens To Give Of Themselves.
It's tough to feel sorry for yourself when your eyes are on others.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4 that we should look not only on
our interests, but also the interests of others.
Keep a list of area organizations that use teens for volunteers.
When your child comes home looking low and using terms that beat up
his emotions, send him down to the area children's hospital and let
him share his life.
(Zone members get the other 5 ways on this list to send parents here:
http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/read/helping_your_teen_with_self-/
Blessings!
Paul and Al
www.teenlifeministries.com
Get in The Zone TODAY... www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone
236 Foxdale, Montgomery, AL 36109, USA
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
One more thought on comparisons
Almost every (or possibly every time I present a talk to students there is something that I feel that I forgot to say or should have said. God works in through me and in spite of me at times. I know His truths can be recived even if I don't present it as well as I should. However, one of the great things about a blog is that I can share things that I didn't mention when I am speaking in front of everyone.
Last night I was talking about the dangers of comparisons. One thing that I don't think I mentioned is that everyone is on a journey that is not exactly like that of anyone else. God has a specific plan for you that He does not have for anyone else. So there, those are my extra thoughts about comparisons and it is out of my head and onto my blog.
Last night I was talking about the dangers of comparisons. One thing that I don't think I mentioned is that everyone is on a journey that is not exactly like that of anyone else. God has a specific plan for you that He does not have for anyone else. So there, those are my extra thoughts about comparisons and it is out of my head and onto my blog.
Monday, April 6, 2009
YS Student Newsletter
You may have seen previous youth specialties newsletters on Kevin's blog if you read it. You can subscribe to it yourself if you want to. Here is the most recent YS student newsletter:
YS Student Newsletter #388
April 6th, 2009
Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
=================================
Competitive Christians?
"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.' " (Luke 19:24-26)
How seriously do you take the idea that there will be rewards in heaven for those who have served Christ well during this life? Does it motivate you to try harder? Does it ignite your competitive spirit? Does it make you willing to sacrifice more, to get up earlier, to dig deeper?
We're not talking about your salvation here, necessarily. However, this servant's inaction could have been the result of not really believing the king would return. In Matthew's version of a similar story, the inactive servant is thrown out of the kingdom. But many immature believers also seem to have decided that since works can't save us, God doesn't care about works.
That could not be more wrong. God created good works for us to do before we were ever saved. Paul describes his whole life as a kind of fierce competition to serve God faithfully for which he would be rewarded. And Jesus' story here strongly suggests that some will receive more than others for their effective work for Him.
Think: How are you investing your life, the one He gave you?
Pray: Thank God that He rewards those who serve Him. Ask Him to help you to be motivated by that in the best possible way.
Do: Make a quick list of the top 3 rewards you've earned so far in your life. Think about what makes those rewards valuable to you.
**
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.
2. SURF REPORT
- The Audacity of Hope Book Review
It is possible to debate President Obama's politics all day, and it is clear that we at PlanetWisdom are in strong disagreement with some of President Obama's policies, most notably his pro-abortion stance. However, President Obama's political campaign was based on finding commonality instead of criticizing differences, and so we will try to do the same.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/books/reviews/audacityofhope.php
~ The Haunting in Connecticut Review
"Some things cannot be explained." Such is the tagline for "The Haunting in Connecticut," complete with a claim to be based on true events and a Discovery channel documentary on the incident.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/movies/hauntinginconnecticut.php
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
By feeding hens certain dyes they can be made to lay eggs with multi-colored yolks.
4. POTENT QUOTABLES
"The price of greatness is responsibility."
~ Winston Churchill
"Teachers: two kinds: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move and the kind that just give you a little prod from behind and you jump to the skies."
~ Robert Frost
5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
A magician was driving down the road, then he turned into a driveway.
YS Student Newsletter #388
April 6th, 2009
Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
=================================
Competitive Christians?
"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.' " (Luke 19:24-26)
How seriously do you take the idea that there will be rewards in heaven for those who have served Christ well during this life? Does it motivate you to try harder? Does it ignite your competitive spirit? Does it make you willing to sacrifice more, to get up earlier, to dig deeper?
We're not talking about your salvation here, necessarily. However, this servant's inaction could have been the result of not really believing the king would return. In Matthew's version of a similar story, the inactive servant is thrown out of the kingdom. But many immature believers also seem to have decided that since works can't save us, God doesn't care about works.
That could not be more wrong. God created good works for us to do before we were ever saved. Paul describes his whole life as a kind of fierce competition to serve God faithfully for which he would be rewarded. And Jesus' story here strongly suggests that some will receive more than others for their effective work for Him.
Think: How are you investing your life, the one He gave you?
Pray: Thank God that He rewards those who serve Him. Ask Him to help you to be motivated by that in the best possible way.
Do: Make a quick list of the top 3 rewards you've earned so far in your life. Think about what makes those rewards valuable to you.
**
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.
2. SURF REPORT
- The Audacity of Hope Book Review
It is possible to debate President Obama's politics all day, and it is clear that we at PlanetWisdom are in strong disagreement with some of President Obama's policies, most notably his pro-abortion stance. However, President Obama's political campaign was based on finding commonality instead of criticizing differences, and so we will try to do the same.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/books/reviews/audacityofhope.php
~ The Haunting in Connecticut Review
"Some things cannot be explained." Such is the tagline for "The Haunting in Connecticut," complete with a claim to be based on true events and a Discovery channel documentary on the incident.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/movies/hauntinginconnecticut.php
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
By feeding hens certain dyes they can be made to lay eggs with multi-colored yolks.
4. POTENT QUOTABLES
"The price of greatness is responsibility."
~ Winston Churchill
"Teachers: two kinds: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move and the kind that just give you a little prod from behind and you jump to the skies."
~ Robert Frost
5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
A magician was driving down the road, then he turned into a driveway.
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