AO Teens

Hello. I’m Caleb and my favorite bible passage is James 1:2-4: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds. For the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” This is my favorite because it tells me that even when life seems to be awful and I’m going through rough times, God is still in control and I can use those times to grow and become better. It also stresses the importance of standing steadfast against the things that life throws at us. This is important because without standing steadfast, we can’t grow from our experiences. Standing steadfast doesn’t mean that you can never feel overwhelmed or feel defeated, but rather that in the end, you don’t give and you hold on to God. Knowing that I can, and will, improve through the hard times I am going through really helps me to keep on going and stand strong, no matter what life is like at the mome...

Do you ever feel incapable of following Jesus?  Unworthy of His calling?  Not good enough?  Not strong enough?  You’re not alone.  In Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV), when God appears to Moses through a burning bush, Moses protests when God calls him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses says that he “is not eloquent”, and is “slow of speech and tongue”. Moses had a stutter.  But God knew. “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?”  God knows about your struggles and imperfections, too. Yes, following Jesus and doing what He tells you is hard. Too hard, in fact. We can’t do it. Bearing the weight of this world, and getting to Heaven, is impossible.  But of course, if we could do it on our own, then what would be the point of the Gospel? We don’t have to do anything to earn His love (Ephesians 2:8), but we’re called to manifest , or display, G...

The Lord of the Rings. This is the excellent movie adaptation of a classic fantasy novel series by J.R.R Tolkien (if you read our “Top ten books to read during lockdown” post, we recommend it there). There are three movies in the theatrical release and six in the extended editions, so we recommend you get the extended editions for the additional content. Regardless of which one you use, this series is definitely one you don’t want to skip.  The Princess Bride. Only one of the greatest movies of all time, the Princess Bride is an absolute classic, and you should watch it the first chance you get. Good for the whole family, this movie has an amazing blend of comedy, action, and romance that will keep everyone interested.  The Avengers (2012). The Avengers is part of a greater storyline, but works well as a standalone movie as well. An exciting movie full of action, join the Avengers as they try to stop the army of the Chitauri from conquering the world.  Harry Potter. Harry...

Poetry by Mara C.  Drawings by Lily W.  SEE THE LIGHT It’s another day and it all feels the same So full of sadness, once I awake Honestly I just want to give up sometimes  Because nothing feels right And it’s all I can do to see the light. But there’s a meaning When I can’t find my way And even on the ugliest days When the world is so dark I have to trust in You Even when that’s the most that I can do. I know there’s a purpose Even when I can’t see And I’m just sinking in apathy But I know one day You’ll make everything right And You can help me to see the light. I guess I have the strength for another day Because there’s a meaning When I can’t find my way.

Read a book. We like a lot of books, but we already wrote a post on 10 of our favorites. Here’s the link: https://aoteens.blogspot.com/2020/07/during-lockdown-you-will-probably-find.html Pick up a new and fun hobby. This one is a good one  because it’s easy to run out of things to do during quarantine, and if you choose something new and different to do, you probably won’t get bored. Be creative and pick something that you wouldn’t normally do! You could even learn to play a new instrument if you have a guitar, ukulele, or piano around the house! Practice your art. Drawing things has been a favorite pastime of people since humanity began, and for good reason. Finishing a drawing and having it turn out well is one of the most satisfying things on the planet, although it takes lots of practice. At the very least you can touch up some of your sketching skills and have fun while you do it. Write a book. Writing is both rewarding and fun, once you come up with a story idea you like. If ...

Hello, friends! Like Lily said a while back, a few of us decided to share our testimonies, and how COVID-19 has impacted them. One thing that I love about hearing other people’s testimonies is that God’s handiwork is laid out in front of you. You can clearly see his sovereignty, and his control. Sanctification is a powerful tool, friends! So my hope is that when you read this, you won’t just see an average story of a girl who follows Jesus, but that you will see my Creator, and the work that He has done in my life. I grew up in a Christian home, going to church every Sunday. During my early years, I didn’t really have an interest or desire for the Bible. I’m sure my parents realized this, but they continued to present it to me anyways. Around the time I turned six, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the truth. Suddenly, I wanted to do what God said was right. I wanted to know Him. And even though I was young, even though I was incapable of so much, I was saved. I distinctly remember a...

Hello, reader! Before I get started, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this blog and especially my post. I hope I can encourage you and make this worth your time.  Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is hugely affected by this pandemic, in the sense that their daily routine is thrown completely off. My daily life didn’t change much, other than many things getting canceled. The only major difference right now is that my dad is working from home, which is a blessing.  But daily routines aren’t the only things that can be affected, especially by something as huge as this pandemic. During this time, I’ve seen friends much less than I would like to have done. I had a weekend retreat and a camp canceled, both of which I wish I’d been able to attend.  My youth group stopped meeting in person. My church stopped meeting in person. My friends and I would likely have gotten together multiple times during the months of quarantine.  And I hated it. And I do hat...

Introduction            Hello! This is Alayna and Lily here, and we are two pen pals who are getting to know each other better and better through letters and letters! We both have other pen pals as well, and we love writing and putting together letters. Here are some tips to help you enjoy it as much as we do! You don’t have to make it as involved as we do, but all these things make penpalling extra fun in case you are looking for boredom busters or other fun things to put in a letter!  5 Ways To Enjoy Pen Palling For A Low Cost     1. Watch The Amount Don’t put all the stuff in one letter! For example, if you put a tea bag in one, it may be wise to wait and put a bracelet in your next one. Otherwise it may get too fat, and require two stamps. 2. Use Caution In Mail Tag Be careful what you ask for while playing mail tag, and keep it simple! Don’t overdo it, or ask for things ...