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 want taking… Read More »20 Awesome Things Christian Teens Can Take Pride In
Let’s start today’s post on mental health for Christian teens with a quick mental wellness checkup: What three adjectives would you use to describe how you feel about your life right now? When I consider my life, I feel . . . Category 1: Angry, anxious, frustrated, scared, lonely, depressed,… 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 jargon 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 Pulpit or Stage? A Critical Look at the Criticism of Christian Fiction, I urged readers to lay off their criticism of faith-based 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… 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 »Pulpit or Stage? A Critical Look at the Criticism of Christian Fiction
(Psst! Snag a freebie at the end of this post!) “I’M SUCH A LOSER. NOBODY CARES ABOUT ME. I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER. I CAN’T DO THIS. MY LIFE SUCKS. I’LL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH. MIGHT AS WELL QUIT NOW.” If your inner voice sounds like that, you could benefit… Read More »Positive Self-Talk For Christian Teens: Words That Actually Work
Christians are always seeking Jesus as though he were a child who wandered away. Where is he? Why can’t I hear him? Shouldn’t I at least be able to feel his presence? Did he leave me? It reminds me of a bizarre incident that happened in my hometown years back,… Read More »Seeking Jesus: How to Get Closer to God Right Now