We spend a lot of time talking about deep topics on this blog (which is amazing, btw), but once in a while, it’s nice to take a break from the tough stuff and touch on something lighter. Like, for example, our favorite standout characters in YA novels. Who are your… Read More »Standout Characters in YA Novels: Lauren’s Picks
If you’re struggling with temptation, your best bet is to flee the situation. No joke. Even unbelievers recognize the simple power of removing triggers when breaking an addiction. An alcoholic should avoid bars and an emotional eater shouldn’t keep a stash of chocolate. But how do you resist temptation if… Read More »How to Resist Temptation: A Christian Teen’s Battle Plan
What is pride? Pride = the quality or state of being proud. Also one of the seven deadly sins—right up there with greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Proverbs 16:18 tells us pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Clearly, pride is a weed you don’t… Read More »16 Awesome Things Christian Teens Can Take Pride In
Let’s start today’s post on mental health for Christian teens with a quick mental health checkup: What three adjectives would you use to describe how you feel about your life right now? When I consider my life, I feel . . . [Angry, anxious, frustrated, scared, lonely, depressed, stressed, apathetic,… Read More »Mental Health For Christian Teens: How to Cultivate Joy Outside Yourself
Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, or habitual sin? Do negative thoughts about yourself, life, and/or God live inside your brain, rent free? Maybe you’re able to pull off an outward aura of easygoing nonchalance, but inside your mind, a terrific battle rages. You don’t want to be struggling and… Read More »Tell Yourself the Truth: Freedom From Depression, Anxiety & More
Like any longstanding group of people, Christians have their own vocabulary and overused phrases. Someone who comes to faith is said to be “born again.” A Christian who tells her coming-to-faith story is said to “give her testimony.” When sharing the good news of Jesus with non-believers, we urge each… Read More »The Battle’s Already Been Won . . . What Battle?
In my last post (Is YA Christian Fiction Ever Christian Enough?), I urged readers to lay off their overall criticism of Christian fiction. YA Christian fiction books offer a great alternative for conscientious readers looking for clean entertainment that encourages faith (as long as you don’t use them as a… Read More »6 Red Flags to Watch For in YA Christian Fiction
Have you ever read a book review where a critic slammed a work of YA Christian fiction for not being “Christian enough”? Lacks Biblical substance. Doesn’t mention Jesus even once. Fluffy entertainment. Let me first say that, as a Christian, it is of utmost importance to guard the integrity of your… Read More »Is YA Christian Fiction Ever Christian Enough?