Pray. Read the Bible. Listen. Be patient.

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet." - Frederick Buechner.

I love that quote! :)  Isn't it powerful?  This quote shows that following God is not boring.  In fact, it can be pretty exciting.

Since we are young, we have this deep passion and excitement to do something.  However, sometimes, it is hard to know what to do with that desire.  Too many teenagers have wasted their teenage years on things that don't really matter.

That needs to change.  That needs to change - now!

In their book "Do Hard Things", Alex and Brett Harris encourage teenagers to "rebel against low expectations" (if you haven't read the book, I would recommend it).  Teenagers are not expected to do much, so they simply don't.  The problem is that most of them have a great potential, but they are not pushed hard enough to fulfill it.

What about you?  What is your passion? 

Maybe you don't know.  Well, sometimes it takes a very long time before we know where to even start.  Nevertheless, do not give up.  Pray.  Read the Bible.  Listen.  Be patient.   

Maybe you have some idea of a passion, but you have no idea what you can do about it.  Well, first pray.  Read the Bible.  Listen.  Be patient.  Then, see if you've come up with something you might be able to do with your passion.  If your passion is something you think God has called you to do in the future, pray about it and see what you can do to prepare for that now.

Maybe you already know and are doing something!  Way to go!  :)  Maybe you know, and aren't doing anything about it.  Well, what is keeping you from doing something?  Does God want you to wait?  If so, wait.  If you aren't sure where to start pray.  Read the Bible.  Listen.  Be patient.  

Your teenage/young adult years are very important.  You are likely still at home, so you have parents and family to help you.  However, you are not grown up all the way so you don't have as much responsibility.  These years are a special gift!  Do not waste them!  Use them to glorify God.  Maybe that means waiting.  Maybe it means preparing.  Maybe it means doing.  Maybe you are called to do something that seems big, or something that seems small.  (They are all very important.  Big is not necessarily more important than small.  God uses both in great ways.)  

Don't wait to serve God (even if that means waiting to see what He wants).  Serve Him every day.  Submit to Him and His will.  He loves you, and has an amazing plan.  We just have to be watching and willing.   

Braids or Curls: What REALLY Matters

Every girl wants to feel beautiful. At least, most girls do.  We spin around in little tutus when we're little, or maybe wear Mama's high-heel shoes.  We paint our nails, wear lipstick, and we dream of being a princess.  We dream of being beautiful.

Then, we grow a little older.  We still have a desire to be beautiful, we just express it differently.  We spend time doing our hair, and we like ti shop for cute clothes.  We do our nails, some wear make-up, and spend money on all sorts of items that are guaranteed to make us more beautiful - but sometimes even that doesn't seem to be enough.

So, what should we do?  Buy more clothes, work out more, and keep comparing ourselves to others??? Um, not really.  Let me tell you something. *Whispers*: God loves you just the way you are.  Did you hear that?  God loves you (yes, YOU) just the way you are!

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:3-4, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

What God really cares about is your character.

You might be thinking, "Well, that's good, but guys like beautiful girls right?" Sure, but guess what? There's something else, too.  "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30).  And, "a wife of noble character is her husband's crown." (Proverbs 12:4a).  So, character does count everywhere!

What is good character?  Well, it is doing the right thing.  And doing the right thing - no matter what. The Bible says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." (Philippians 4:8).  If we think about good things, our actions should mirror them.

So, what matters? Braids? Curls?  Not really.  Having good character and loving God with all your heart is what counts.