He is with us through everything

~New Years~

This has been an interesting year. Some things that have happened in my life are:

1. I graduated from high school

2. I got my driver's license

3. I survived my first semester in college

4. I have taken my first solo transatlantic flight

5. I've gone on a mission trip 

6. I have made friends

7. I have lost friends

8. I have been vulnerable

9. I have been a closed book

And a lot more.

This has been a really interesting year. I know I just said that. But it really has been. I'm so happy that God is with us through everything! And that He will see us through next year, no matter what it brings.

Befriend and be friends

~Friday for Friends~

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

Let us be this kind of friend to others! In this coming year, let us make it a priority to befriend and continue to be friends with those around us. And let us tell them of the good news!

Switching to Mailchimp and how you can help

~Random Tuesday~

Hey, y'all! Thank you so much for visiting and following Teens Live for Jesus. :) I've been procrastinating on this for quite some time, but I'm finally going to switch to Mailchimp for sending all of the fabulous emails (instead of Feedburner). I'll be making the switch at the beginning of the year, but I need a little bit of help from you... 

This little cry for help only applies to the people who are subscribed by email only and NOT the people who are following with Google. I'm sure there's an easier way to do this transition, but I haven't found it in my couple-hours search of the vast Internet. So I really hope you don't mind helping me out with  2 steps.

#1 - In the next few days, you'll be getting the normal emails after my blog posts come out. Sometime soon please UNSUBSCRIBE from those. And then...

#2 - If you still wish to get email updates from this blog, please comment on this post with your email address. I review all comments before they are posted, and these will NOT be posted. I will add your email address to a subscribers list on Mailchimp, and you'll start receiving emails from blog posts in January. :)

Thank y'all for reading my posts. It means a lot to me to be able to share insights, book reviews, and more with you.

God bless you guys and have a great Christmas season!

Still with us

~Monday Movies & Music~

David Dunn has a fun song, "I Wanna Go Back." 

"13 For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

    when I was made in the secret place,

    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,

    they would outnumber the grains of sand—

    when I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:13-18 (NIV)

Isn't it amazing that God sees us through every single time of our lives?! He formed us, and even now He is still with us. Whether we feel like it or not. 

His glory

~Christmas is here~

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[a] from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (ESV)

Merry Christmas! May we all remember our Savior on this day and on every day!

Unwritten Melody by Tessa Emily Hall

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Cassie: "My bed squeaks as I climb on top of it. Sitting against the wooden headboard, I place the typewriter in my lap and inhale its dusty scent - which is oddly comforting, like the pages within an old book. Words beg to burst forth through my fingertips as I adjust the paper. This is my therapy."

Typical James: "To put it simply, I have to pursue music. Not just for myself or for this passion, but for the people who may some day be touched through my songs. Those who might be affected by my music in a positive way."

All her life, Cassie has been sheltered. Her grandma sets a 7 p.m. curfew, doesn't let her go to birthday parties, doesn't let her drive, etc., etc., etc. And all her life Cassie has been obedient. But now she wants to do something out of the ordinary, to experience the life that she never got to have, to be a normal teenager. Will her new classmate James be the answer to any of that? Does she have the courage to step out of her small world of grandparents, a couple friends, and her song lyrics?

James was just on American Spotlight, living his dream. But now he can't seem to find the inspiration and words to even start a demo album. Coming to a town in the middle of nowhere with his mother, James wants to sort out his life and figure out what he wants to do after high school. But his past, the past he has tried so hard to forget, might haunt him even here. 

Unwritten Melody is a beautiful story, based somewhat on the sheltered life of the poet Emily Dickinson. The struggles of both Cassie and James are relatable and intricately woven into the story. Cassie learns how to be vulnerable and how to believe that her life holds meaning and purpose. James learns to learn from past mistakes, but not to let them hold him back. 

At some times during the story, I felt that it dragged. However, other times were extremely gripping. The story is not as faith-focused as it could be, but it does include a few mentions of God. More about the Bible is woven into the discussion questions after the story. 

For more on Tessa Emily Hall, visit her website, Facebook page, and blog. She has also written the book, Purple Moon. 

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Love each other

~Friday for Friends~

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:12-13 (NIV)

How can you show love for others today?