Wisdom for todays teenagers!

If you are a teenager living in these times I can only imagine what the stories you will tell your kids.  I didn’t get a phone until I was in the 4^th grade, or sometimes we couldn’t get Internet upstairs.  Are those hard times?  They are for our kids and teenagers today.  But on the other hand, these kids face fears like never before.  Such as terrorist activities which seem to be occurring now each and every day. From people being blown up in shopping malls, to be-headings in the Middle East just for professing to being a Christian.

I have a message for all of you today, it’s a compilation of some things I’ve heard and read in scripture as well as from ministers who teach God’s prophetic word. 

If you are a young person today, be alert and learn as much as you can regarding what is going on around you.  The people perish for lack of knowledge the Bible says.  So seek out what’s going on in your communities, in your town and state.  The more you know the easier decisions will be when something arises that needs wisdom.  Remember, the Bible is filled with so much wisdom, especially the book of Proverbs.  That is highly suggested reading for any teenager or young adult.

Some other important suggestions I’d like to share are character builders.  For instance,  if you have free time, by that I mean you don’t have a job or are at school, find some places to volunteer.  Or better yet, ask your mom or dad if they have certain things you can help them with.  They will surely appreciate that.  If they don’t have anything call your grandparents and see if they need help with anything.  Remember, they are older and can’t do some of the yard work like they used to.  So find ways to help someone and believe me when I say you will be blessed for doing so.  Always, always show respect and listen carefully to your parents and grandparents.  They love you very much and want you to grow up making good choices in life.  They have your best interest at heart when they give you advice.  It’s so important to store their knowledge and wisdom for times when you will need it.  I realize some of those stories can be boring, but ask God to give you a spirit to be a good listener and take good mental notes.  One day you will be so glad you did that.  See, they have lived so much longer than you have, and they have experienced tough times and good times, and how they handled the tough times really tells you about their character.  Learn how they handled certain situations and use that later on in life.  There is no better teacher than the Bible, and your elders, especially if they are Christian believers. What a double blessing that is if they are.

Another great suggestion that I'd like to share is to always be yourself, because everyone else is already taken – right?  It’s so hard to try and be the person who is perfect, that is very stressful and besides no one is perfect, except Jesus.  If you are yourself by being honest and trustworthy, your friends and family will always be able to count on you for support and love.  But, if you are always trying to be someone you are not, well you will always be disappointed and they will be too.  Remember, you are a special child of God, when he made you he threw away the mold.  You are made in His image and carry his amazing genes on the inside of you.  Act like it.  You also have all the power needed in the form of the Holy Spirit to do anything that comes your way, that is if you believe and trust in Jesus.  If you have been saved by asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and he has begun to create in you a clean heart, then you are on your way to a life filled with much peace and joy.  But when trouble comes and it will, Jesus will be there to give you a helping hand and give you his strength to get through it. The choice is yours.  For me it was a no brainer.  I was tired of living angry, afraid and stressed out over things I had no control over all the time.  My choice was clear, Jesus was the answer for me, I hope it will be for you too.

Here is a letter I read on facebook written by a gentleman named John Tapene:

My advice to teenagers:

Go home mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons and after you are finished,  read a book.  Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun.  The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something.  You owe your time and energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in sickness and lonely ever again.  In other words grow up! Stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone not a wishbone.  Start behaving like a responsible person.  You are important and you are needed.  It’s too late to sit around and wait for something to do something someday.  Someday is NOW and that somebody is YOU!

Have a blessed day everyone, if you have a teenager or know one who may be blessed by this pass it along will ya! Thank you and God Bless. 

Life behind the bars of "Perfectionism"

I am sure you are asking why I would say this.  Well, here goes.  The meaning of "perfectionism" is judging yourself by your achievements.  Even though it sounds good and all, when we measure our worth in terms of productivity and our accomplishments and always strive for impossible goals, and they are never fulfilled, well we will constantly be disappointed.  This is because we are driven and not lead.  We will constantly be in a prison of perfectionism.

This is life behind the bars of "perfectionism":

• You are never satisfied
• It's a thief - promising rewards but steals your joy and satisfaction
• You set impossible goals which sets you up for frustration

In the material world people who are perfectionists earn on average about $15K less than other individuals.  Reason is they waste time, trying to always be perfect at every task given to do.  Productivity not perfection.  Also they tend to be more critical of others.  Intolerable of all people.  I pity the woman who is married to a perfectionist or children whose parents are perfectionists.  A wife and mother rarely had fun time with her children because she wanted to have an immaculate house, believe me I know I have been there and done that.

People who are perfectionists may be judgemental and hard to live with at times.  They set impossible goals and are idealist - not realists.  Perfectionist in a dreamworld that never comes to pass.  They also tend to always want to be #1, the BEST, they get upset when others do better than they do.  They cannot accept the Best, they have to be the Best.

Another feeling perfectionists will have to deal with is never being able to relax, because if they try to they will always feel guilty.  Going on a trip with a perfectionist is not very much fun. There will be fewer potty stops, since the goal of course is the destination not the adventure along the way.  The other thing perfectionists tend to do which is very dangerous, is punish themselves when they did not live up to their expectations.  They failed and they won't forgive themselves for it.

So after learning about what a perfectionist may go through - let's look at ways to get out of this prison of perfectionism shall we.

The first and most important thing to do is to learn to accept our imperfections.  Remember God accepts us not on the basis of performance and achievements.  If we feel he only accepts us based on performance and or achievements, then how would we ever know when we've done enough.  You need to see God as a good God not one who is demanding and you are always trying to earn his acceptance.  God has accepted you by Grace as so stated in Ephesians 1-6.  He isn't up in heaven keeping track of what we are doing, or as to how many times we read the Bible, or how many hours or minutes we spend in prayer.

Accept yourself, reprogram your mind to listen to what God says about you not the enemy.  Women, don't listen to those ads on television about having a perfect body or you can't just be a housewife in life, but you have to have a career in order to be accepted or successful.  Young men, it's not about sexual conquest or being a tough football player, or even a businessman.  Having a bigger house and nicer car etc.  You are all special in God's eyes. Learn to accept those around you who make mistakes and are not perfect and stop being so demanding.  Do us a favor and please resign as the CEO of the Universe.

As soon as you accept yourself and others as imperfect people, and that you are are loved by a perfect Father in Heaven, you will be set free to live the life that God has for you.  I did this many years ago and by God's grace I am happier now, I am not as disappointed in myself when I do something wrong and I don't punish myself or others either.  I know I still mess up at times, but I have a Father in Heaven who still loves me and forgives me when I do.  I hope this helps you if you are a perfectionist.  I believe God wants us to do our best at all times, but well "perfect" that's his title.  Blessings to you all.