Intro.
Happy Teen?
The smiley face has been popular among teens for at least decades. Do you know the story of Franklin Loufrani's "Smiley company?" They made millions off of the simple smiley face logo. The emoticons and emojis we use today were inspired from that iconic logo. Smiley faces have always been a big hit with teens!
Unfortunately, I think we would all agree that teenagers in this world are actually most often anything but happy. We have all heard the statistics. Teens are very likely to feel unaccepted or even bullied at school. You are likely to suffer with depression. You are likely to turn to substance abuse, multiple relationships, pornography, and even suicide...that doesn't sound like happiness to me.
So, what is happiness?
The smiley face has been popular among teens for at least decades. Do you know the story of Franklin Loufrani's "Smiley company?" They made millions off of the simple smiley face logo. The emoticons and emojis we use today were inspired from that iconic logo. Smiley faces have always been a big hit with teens!
Unfortunately, I think we would all agree that teenagers in this world are actually most often anything but happy. We have all heard the statistics. Teens are very likely to feel unaccepted or even bullied at school. You are likely to suffer with depression. You are likely to turn to substance abuse, multiple relationships, pornography, and even suicide...that doesn't sound like happiness to me.
So, what is happiness?
Purpose
Why am I even here?
Many teens ask this question. I have even seen several Christian teens post this question on their Facebook wall. Your teen years are a vital time to decide the direction of your life. Until you have a purpose in life, you have no direction, and your life seems pointless.
However, if God created you with a purpose then you have something to look forward to. You have a direction. You are like an arrow. All you have to do is to be shot into the right direction. God is the perfect Archer, and He has a direction, a purpose, for you.
But what is your purpose?
Potential
Why do I feel so worthless?
Quick question: When God finished creating the world, and He looked at it and saw it was very good, was His creation complete?
Well, you and I weren't here yet. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, and they hadn't had children yet. Many species of animals we see today were not around yet...
The thing is, God made everything with potential. Each fruit has a seed inside it with the potential to become a new fruit tree (or vine). Atoms, like tiny Legos that make up everything in our world, are constantly building new things and being broken down and rebuilt into something else. The wind and the oceans and the moving of the earth are shaping the world around us everyday...and you and I wake up to a new day every morning with the potential to fail or to do something great that day.
Whatever you feel your worth is now, you have potential to be just as successful as anyone else.
But what is success?
Well, you and I weren't here yet. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, and they hadn't had children yet. Many species of animals we see today were not around yet...
The thing is, God made everything with potential. Each fruit has a seed inside it with the potential to become a new fruit tree (or vine). Atoms, like tiny Legos that make up everything in our world, are constantly building new things and being broken down and rebuilt into something else. The wind and the oceans and the moving of the earth are shaping the world around us everyday...and you and I wake up to a new day every morning with the potential to fail or to do something great that day.
Whatever you feel your worth is now, you have potential to be just as successful as anyone else.
But what is success?
Prosperity
How can I be successful?
Courtesy of Ryk Neething, on Flckr
We cannot talk about prosperity without mentioning Psalms 1:3
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Isn't that what we all want? Success. Prosperity. How do we get that?!
Based on God's words, not on the words of this youth pastor, the following three rules are the key to true prosperity:
(click on the following links for the 3 rules)
1) Love God
2) Do not hang around people who don't love God
3) If you love God, follow God's Instructions
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Isn't that what we all want? Success. Prosperity. How do we get that?!
Based on God's words, not on the words of this youth pastor, the following three rules are the key to true prosperity:
(click on the following links for the 3 rules)
1) Love God
2) Do not hang around people who don't love God
3) If you love God, follow God's Instructions
|
|
|
|
