FOR TEENS ONLY!

ok.
this is for all my teens out there.
when i say "mine", i mean all of you who are a part of my life.
some of you may not even know it, but you are a part of my life.
see...i pray for you. by name.
did you know that? i do.
the other day, i wrote down the names of every teen i could think of that has ever been into the porch.
there were a lot.
i pray for all of you. if you wonder what exactly i pray? just ask. i'd love to tell you.

so. here we are.
it's the end of 2012. the beginning of a new year.
you guys are at the point in your life where you are making your own new years resolutions. right?
i mean...it used to be just watching your parents decide to start a diet, or cut back on tv. or whatever.
but now it's your turn.

i believe very strongly, that God has a plan for YOU. i mean...you specifically.
not just your family, or your school, or your town.
but you.
i think it's pretty amazing that we have the freedom and the choice to do whatever we want with our lives.
doesn't it just seem crazy sometimes?

you are where you are, because God put you here.

but. you have a choice.
you decide...
your friends, your attitude, your grades, your REPUTATION.
so what have your choices been in 2012?
did you choose friends that helped to make you a stronger, better leader?
did you choose to have a positive attitude, maybe in spite of bad circumstances?
did you choose to apply yourself to school?
did you choose with you actions that you would have a good reputation?

all of you have a reputation.
some of them are good. some bad.

i think it's weird that some of you think it's the tough thing...the cool thing...the strong thing...
*to have NO self control.
*to be known for getting into trouble.
*to hurt people for fun

see..that's the opposite of tough...of cool...of strong.
it is, in fact...weak.

yep. that's right. weak.
anyone can lose their temper, anyone can beat someone up.
but it takes someone strong to control themself.

so my challenge for you this year.
2013.
be the change. be the difference. be a leader!
make a decision to be
strong this year.

when you see your friends picking on someone else?
be the strong one.
when you see your friends smoking pot?
(yep. i said it. don't think i'm stupid enough to not see what some of you are doing.)
be the strong one.
when you see the option to get in trouble with your teacher?
be the strong one.

come on!

who is going to be the one in Epping Middle and High School this year that stands out?

is it going to be you?

because it can be. i mean...after all.
it's your choice.

here's your challenge for this year.
make some resolutions.

girls:
decide to dress appropriately. (help the guys out!)
make standards of guys you will date.
make standards of how physical you will get with a guy.
decide that you are going to help your parents out with your attitude. that you'll respect their rules.
decide that you are going to come up with a way to serve your community
decide that you are going to be the one who doesn't curse.
decide that you are going to do SOMETHING! and stick to it!

guys:
decide to not let yourself look at inappropriate things on the internet.
make standards of what kind of a girl you will date.
make standards of how physical you will get with a girl.
decide that you aren't going to smoke this year.
decide that you are going to show respect to your mom! (and dad!)
decide that you are going to be the one who doesn't curse.
decide that you are going to do SOMETHING! and stick to it!

please know that we are watching you. we are praying for you. and we are here for you.
see...me and adam? we already know your reputation.
we can pretty much tell it the second you walk in the door.
but even if you have a bad reputation now? 2013 can be different.

decide right now that 2013 will be different.
you will be a leader.
you will be different.
you will be strong.

and you will be someone that everyone else wants to be like.

happy new year!