Truth For His Youth
I often think on the “truths” we are all bombarded by the world with, that just really aren’t true for Christians.
Introducing a mini-series that I’m calling #truthforHisyouth, inspired by a season of working with teens, I’m taking all those basic inspirational quotes we see out in social, pairing it with a Bible text and spinning it into a positive and Godly truth for our daily Christian walk. These can apply to everyone, but I find that the youth are the most susceptible to listening to the lies of the world, promising them things not unlike the Devil's original lies to Eve in the garden.
#truthforHisyouth /1
Some late night thoughts and doodles. I’m all for self-care, staying on top of mental health and being mindful of general wellbeing, but is it just me or am I being inundated with ‘LOVE YOURSELF’ messages lately? And I’m not just talking about ‘the world’ having this mindset—it’s creeping into the Christian scene more and more these days. Let’s not forget who’s really #1 in our lives. Not us. Not our spouses. Not our kids. HIM. Him first, then you and everyone else second. It’s not that we have to choose one or the other - happy or holy - we can have both in and through Christ alone, first. --- Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:29c-31 | NIV
#truthforHisyouth /2
You guys, the feedback and energy around my happy vs. holy post a while back got me thinking on “truths” we are bombarded by as (dare I say) Millenials that just really aren’t true for a young Christian. So, I’m starting a mini-series that I’m calling #truthforHisyouth. Inspired by working with the @grassie.youth this season and the absent provoking posts of @just_th_inking while he hangs up his hat for a while. I’m taking all those basic inspirational self-love/self-care quotes we see out in social media and Pinterest on the reg, pairing it with a Bible text and spinning it into an upbeat and Godly truth for our daily Christian walk. This is just a fun one to announce the series.
#truthforHisyouth /3
HE could. Not he as in her boyfriend or husband. Not he as in her knight-in-shining-armour, who sweeps her off her feet and saves her. HE as in He. He could, and did... and now she can. --- I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 | ESV
#truthforHisyouth /4
When people share my artwork on their personal accounts with no tag or mention of me, I usually THANK them for sharing it if I stumble accross it. All for HIS glory, right? But a business account? That's business gain on my dime and my time for their social. As a 9-5 design industry professional, using Christianity as an excuse to steal original content is shameful. As a Christian, am I crazy for wanting art credit? Am I wrong? Is this "un-Christian" of me? Reading John 3:3-31, I start to wonder if I just have to get over it, in the name of proclaiming Jesus—because it’s about Him and not me. That’s exactly what I have been preaching with this #truthforHisyouth series, isn’t it? --- He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:30-31 | ESV
#truthforHisyouth /5
As youth mentors, we have been going through the book ‘Just Do Something’ by Kevin DeYoung. It’s amazing in the conversations we have with them how similar our decision making sounds 10 years later. Wether we are considering what college to go to or when to buy a house—it’s the same story. We wonder what God’s will is and we stall, waiting for Him to ‘show us the way’, because we want to please Him with our life and pick the ‘correct’ path. But, as we’re all learning together, Jesus does not want us to worry about the future. He does not want us to obsess over what His will for our lives is. God wants our heart, He wants us to meditate on Him daily and let the faith in our lives spill over into our decision making process. He wants us to use the brains He gave us to decide what’s right and move forward in faith; and what will be IS His will. --- So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34 | NIV
#truthforHisyouth /6
I used to be quite the advocate for the saying 'Fake it till you make it'. But then I ran into this one, and it's irrevocably changed my view. It's exactly what was missing from the previous saying, what I wanted from that quote. I pride myself in my candor (for better or worse), so why would I want to fake it? I strive to be real with the people in my life, in my joys AND my struggles; and there's no telling what state I would be in without my faith. Speaking specifically to my mental health the past couple of years, my faith has kept me sane. I honestly wonder how people do this thing called life without God, and a belief that there's more than this. Whatever season you find yourself in right now, I hope this finds you and wakes you up to the more in this life, and the next. Cause there's more, and it will go oh so much better.
#truthforHisyouth /7
self-esteem noun Confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.
Friends, apart from Christ we are nothing. ‘2 Corinthians 10:17-18 says '“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.' (See also 1 Corinthians 1 and Psalm 34)
Take pride and boast about Christ’s work IN you. Tell everyone around you about the things He has done in your life. Tell others about who you were before Christ came into your life and before you gave your life to Him. Boast about his saving grace and forgiveness. Boast about His spirit of growth, learning and unlearning in you—boast about Him. --- Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:1-3 | ESV
