» teenage

Teenage Girls Talk About Popularity (or, “being popular”)

Jordy — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:02:17 +0000

Popularity! How important is it for teenage girls to be popular? To what extent are you willing to go to become part of the “in-group”? Are you willing to compromise your values just to say you are friends with a certain crowd? Why is this worth discussing you may think, but of course everyone wants to be accepted. I want to challenge you to evaluate what your personal definition of popularity is. Let’s look at the life of Jesus…Jesus was certainly sought after , but not necessarily with the “popular groups” of that day. Jesus did not follow the crowd, Jesus stayed close to God and did only what God told him to do, and this is what made him so attractive to others. I want to challenge you not to “follow the crowd” for the sake of trying to become accepted by others. You must learn to be the best “YOU” that you can be, and often times this means going against the crowd. What is God telling you to do? Perhaps God is nudging you to be a friend to the new girl on the block, or volunteer your time after school at a study group. It is God’s acceptance of you that will have a lasting impact on your life. The popular groups will come and go, but God’s plans for your life will stretch into eternity. Spend some time praying and asking God just how you can use the gifts and talents he has given you to become “popular” in his eyes.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts/comments regarding popularity. Please share how this article relates to your life, feel free to ask questions and let’s dialogue (or, “talk”) together around God’s principles.

Depression!

Jordy — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:50:45 +0000

Have you ever felt depressed? Many teenage girls have at some point expressed that they have felt depressed. By depressed I mean, great sadness, feeling like no one cares about them, feeling as if they are not important. Well, I have good news for you today! You do not have to be depressed anymore! You may be thinking: “easy for you to say”, you do not realize what is happening in my life! I may not know exactly what is happening in your life but I do know that God loves you. IF God is for you, then no weapon formed against you can hurt you. Depression can only take hold of you if YOU allow it to. You can change your thoughts, you can change your attitude, and you will start to feel better. If you stay focused on what God says about you, and not the circumstances surrounding you, depression will run far from you. Pay attention to the words that you are speaking during the day, and the thoughts you are allowing yourself to think about. Words and thoughts are powerful; they can tear you down or encourage you. Now, I know probably none of you reading this article will admit that you “talk to yourself”, but let’s assume you do: might it sound like this: I am ugly, I am too fat, I am too skinny, no one likes me, I am dumb, my family is weird? Sound familiar to anyone? Thoughts and words like that would depress anyone. Now try to replace those thoughts and words with statements God says about you: You are fearfully and wonderfully made, you are loved, you are forgiven, you belong to the family of God, and you are blessed and highly favored! What a difference words and thoughts can make in how you feel. Choose to agree with what God says about you and watch your life change.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts/comments regarding this article. Please share how this article relates to your life, feel free to ask questions and let’s dialogue together around God’s principles.

Serving In God’s Love,
Lucy Ann

Are You Happy Being You?

Jordy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:22:40 +0000

Most teenage girls that I talk with are unhappy with who they are. They identify their happiness by how they look, how many friends they have, whether or not they have a boyfriend how well they are doing in school or if they qualify for the cheerleading squad. There are so many reasons to decide you do not like yourself if you are focused on exterior things or people to make you happy. True happiness comes from the inside. God wants you to enjoy your life and celebrate YOU! How do you celebrate YOU in a society that is so focused on material things? You keep your focus on the things of God. Don’t compare yourself to other girls, don’t allow what boys might say about you to affect the way you feel about yourself. Compare yourself to who God says you are! God says you are the apple of his eye, and you are loved! God’s word tells you that you are more than a conqueror and that you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. God loves you and has a perfect plan for your life, start today by looking in the mirror and telling yourself how SPECIAL you are! Don’t forget Jesus died on the cross because he loved you so much. God wants you to be happy, and happiness is a decision that You make! Decide today to be happy about who you are! Celebrate yourself and others will begin to notice that there is something different about you! God bless you and have a happy day today.

Serving In God’s Love,
Lucy Ann