TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER By Ashley Stevens

BEING THANKFUL

Can you believe it? November is here, and it is time to come together as a family and reflect on things to be thankful for! As we get caught up in the world and all of it’s negativity, we tend to lose focus on the things we are blessed with. This week I would like to challenge everyone to try and think about things we as young Christian believers can be thankful for. I have thought about a few and I would like to share just four things that I am thankful for this Holiday Season. FRIENDS AND FAMILY. These are the people closest to us. Friends and family are those that encourage, support, and offer guidance through our lives. God created family for a purpose. Parents are to guide us in life to help us grow in our Christian faith.

EDUCATION. I know your “I should be thankful for school?” Yes, you should! I know it’s hard sometimes to wake up every morning and just crave to learn more and sit through boring classes. But teens, we really need to be grateful for the teachers who taught us the ability to read and write. Without them it would be more difficult to learn God’s lessons and great stories that are found in the Bible.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. Some people around the world would give almost anything to have the ability to express their Christian faith. We sometimes tend to forget what an amazing right and privilege it is to have religious freedom. FREEDOM FROM SIN. God gave the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our sinful nature. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross in order to take away our sins, so that one day we can live with Him in Heaven. His death is why we strive to be more like Jesus and less like the world. P.S. Don’t forget to count your blessings! HAPPY THANKSGIVING Until next time, Ashley Stevens