AO Teens

One True Hope A Story by Lily W.  All Drawings By Mara C. Hello everyone! I wanted to share a great story of hope with you all. This is not a true story, but in many cases it could very well be. This isn’t just a fantasy story, but I truly hope it will be read anyways, and that it will give you an understanding of the true hope we have in Jesus Christ, our Savior.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hope. It can be described many different ways, in many different contexts. Some think of it as a motivational word, while others think much deeper. But hope has only one true definition, or, as you could think of it, we only have one true hope.  There once were two sisters. The older one was the “angelic” child, never straying from her parents’ instruction. She did her work dutifully, and took her parents’ praise humbly. Her younger sister, however, was always the naughty one. She left her wor

Stress Relievers: This is a short little section that will help you relax and be calmer. These are just a few suggestions to help relax your mind and body and keep you calmer. But one thing to remember is that in God you can always, ALWAYS find peace and calm. Baths and yoga always help. Listening to music Doing a 3D Diamond painting Don’t forget to die laughing with us during our joke section! There are sooooooo many things you could do! -Kessa READ SCRIPTURE! It’s not only a great way to relax, but it’s a way that you can talk to God, and listen to Him, through all of your stress and frustration, and just breathe and enjoy His Word. I know that many of us struggle with stress, and even though I may not understand that as well as you do (“she’s only thirteen!” you may say), I do know many people that have, and that all healing and restoration is found in God, and he is found in his Word. It’s meant for you just as much as any other! Here is a great YouTube cha

Hello friends! Quarantine has thrown us all through a loop, hasn’t it?  But, like Dom said in his introduction, there is light at the end of the tunnel,  and wow, that light is brighter than ever before right now!  Things are re-opening, some people are going back to church and work, and the end of this is in sight.  Now, not everything is normal. I know you know that. If you’re an artist of any kind, it’s very possible that you don’t see normal coming back for a while.  We’re artists, and we would like to come alongside you.  Below is a mock conversation, which we've put together in hopes of helping you see that you aren't alone. I hope this post is a source of encouragement for you all! Oh, hi Bella! Hello Nate! How are you? I’m doing great! How are you? I’m okay, but I just don’t have an outlet for my creativity anymore!  Dance is canceled, and I’m stuck with my writing- I don't know where to go next!  How am I supposed to find inspiration wh

HOPE Darkness deepens,  No end in sight. The future is scary, Lonely,  Black. Sometimes that’s how life feels. You think you’re alone, Lost in the darkness. We’ve all been there. Be patient. Hope is coming. You and I, We’re held in a Hand That will never let go.

“She was unstoppable. Not because she had did not have failures or doubts but because she continued on despite of them.” - Beau Taplin  “People cry not because they are weak but because they have been strong for too long” - Johnny Depp Do not give your past the power to define your future -Unknown  “The right direction leads not only to peace but also knowledge” -C.S. Lewis  “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel” - Maya Angelou  When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock higher than I -Psalm 61:2 (part2)  She who kneels before God can stand before anyone -Unknown.    “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the dreams you dare to dream really do come true.” -Unknown “The goal is to die with memories NOT dreams” -Unknown “Hakuna Matata” Timon & Pumbaa  “If you see someone without a smile give them one of yours” -Dolly Parton  “Your life isn’t yours if you

This post was a collaborative effort featuring Isabella and Layla.  Hello everyone! We hope you’re doing well, and staying safe and healthy.  But let’s be honest for a moment: Things out there don’t look amazing at the moment. We’re not going to lie. Today, it really sunk in: I've been doing this social distancing thing for two months! That's a really long time! Some of you may be feeling pretty anxious and stressed right now. But, it doesn’t have to stay that way. While we know that God and His peace are the only things that really removes those anxious feelings, (Psalm 94:19, Philippians 4:7,) we’ve found a few things that have helped us during this time, and thought we’d share them with you.  1. Be a Prayer Warrior  Lots of you might be feeling somewhat helpless at the moment. Finding and keeping a sense  of purpose is hard enough in normal life, but now, some of those purposes are taken away. If you are feeling helpless, I encourage you to be a prayer warri