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Thoughts or advice?

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Sixteen year old here. It's very suggested that I ask family/friends about a coming up teen zoom call, that's on monday. The title is, 'A Life of Perserverance.'
So, any thoughts or advice ya'll?

Comment

Without knowing much about the call, I can only give you a little bit on perseverance as a teen. Search psalms & proverbs especially over the next couple of days. David and Solomon were both very wise. You may also want to look at the book of Wisdom. As a teen, it was very difficult to persevere. I have 5 children who struggled as they became adults. The world is so intent on getting teens to conform and be like the world! Scripture tells us only the few will make it through the gate to life. Have faith in Yah and yourself, if you fall, get up. Repeat. I dont know what kind of music you listen to, but there's a rallying song by Gideon called Survive. The style may not be yours, but I encourage you to read the lyrics. Honor your parents. If I hadnt been so rebelious, I would have saved myself so much torment and trauma that still haunts me 35 years later. Your parents may seem to be trying to keep you from having fun, but they have the wisdom of their own experiences to keep you safe while you have fun. Short term fun does not outweigh long term obedience to Yah or your parents. Dont be afraid to make safe, good memories though either. If you mess up, take responsibility for it, but also forgive yourself because Yah forgives those who repent (remember the parable about the debtor the king forgave). Our selves are debtors to us when we sin, so its important to release those debts, but learn from our mistakes. Pray diligently for strength and wisdom and courage. These come with time often, but some are granted with these earlier than others. If trauma strikes, remember Job. Even if you lash out at Yah over trauma, He wont forget you or let go of you, even if you feel like He's abandoned you. Footprints is a good poem to remember. When you struggle, praise Yah for the growing pains. I hope that helps a little! May you be blessed through Monday's experience! Shalom.

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It's been many years since I was 16, but I know that my two kids struggle with even more things that I had to at their age due to internet access and norms having changed over the years. When I grew up the Bible was still the measuring stick of church and state. This can't even be said of many churches, let alone secular societies.

I believe a person can only stand strong in something based on:

1. You truly understand what you believe, down to the nitty gritty. Think apologist...
2. You blindly follow what you have been brought to believe and reject all other opinions. Think of anyone in a cult/sect.
3. You confess to believe something, haven't studied why you believe it and still reject all other opinions. Think atheist.

In my view, the first option is the best position to be at, but then you have to be open an honest with whatever you find even if it goes against your current beliefs as it would open up other subjects that you need to investigate to understand.

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Today we have number 2 with a twist: it appears millions, or at least hundreds of thousands, of Americans will believe whatever they are told by their leaders IN REAL TIME. We have leftists protesting the only viable electric car company and people on what's being called the right (it's not) turning on our brothers and sisters in Canada and Europe. It's simply preposterous - like can't be true surreal stuff - but people are doing this at the very mention of it because they worship politicians rather than God. No critical thinking whatsoever.