Don't Get 'Hooked' By Your Teenager

Be clear minded and self-controlled. 1 Peter 4:7 NIV

Teenagers can test your sanity. They're neither adult nor child, and can become either without notice. Flooding hormones and exploding neurons spark biochemical reactions in their heads and bodies. Words like, 'What in the world were you thinking?' form involuntarily on your lips. In response come sullen teenage shrugs, followed by the incomprehensible, 'I don't know.' And they don't! What can you do? 'Lock them up?' Sorry, that's illegal. But here are two things that will help.

1) Back off and slow down. 'Be clear minded and self-controlled.' One of the biggest mistakes parents make is overreacting, which triggers an escalating battle of wills you're unlikely to win. Decibel levels rise, wisdom fails, your teen concludes you're the crazy one, and suddenly there's no adult present and nobody's 'minding the store.' You've become part of the problem, leaving your child angry and insecure, without a rational role model. Pray, breathe deeply and count to ten! For your child's sake, it's time for the clear minded and self-controlled parent to prevail.

2) Remember, anger begets anger. 'An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin' (Proverbs 29:22 NLT). No one can infuriate you like a teenager trying to grow up. A look, a word, an attitude, and you're 'hooked;' you're in a shouting match with your own child. How crazy is that? Emotionally charged exchanges hard wire your teenager's brain for automatic, long-term anger reactions. What's the answer? Use the carrot and stick approach of Scripture: 'Provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture [love and encouragement] and admonition [character building discipline] of the Lord' (Ephesians 6:4).

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I so agree with these two points. Specially the second one. I myself, hate to be shouted at and when my parents do that, they will get what they want. lol. I know it's wrong but it's reality, even the Bible says that. hehe. Peace out! XD

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

Hello. My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

Qualifications

• I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
• I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
• I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
• I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
• The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background

• I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).
• I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
• My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experiences

• Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
• I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).
• Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background

• I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
• In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).
• My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
• I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

Major Accomplishments

• I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26).
• I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
• I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
• I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
• There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References

• Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance

In Summation

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

Knowing Jesus, Who is God

Jesus! Who is he? Amazon.com has 175,986 books about him. Google has over 165 million references to him. He has profoundly and positively impacted every conceivable aspect of life on this planet. People throughout history had all sorts of ideas about him ranging from “a liberal” to “Higher Power” to “Santa Claus” to “an enlightened moral person.”

“What about you? Who do you say I am?" Jesus asked Peter in Matthew 16:15. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," replied Peter. John 20:30-31 says, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” Knowing Jesus personally and intimately is the central purpose of life. The destiny of every human being depends upon his relationship to Jesus because He is God. The result of believing in him is life. Jesus said in John 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus whom You have sent.” Who is Jesus? What does the Bible say about him? How do we get to know him?

Jesus is the God of the universe. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The traditional Jewish mindset would understand John to be saying that the Word is the creative power of God and is, in fact, God Himself. He created the universe. Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.”

Jesus is the Lord of life. He is the Giver of life, and He is life eternal. “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:4). This life is the opposite of death, destruction, and condemnation.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” He gives life freely to those who ask to receive it. Jesus Christ is Life Eternal and He offers that life to us through the new birth—by being born again.

It is solely by God’s power, not ours, that we receive Life. Apart from Christ we are spiritually dead. When we put our faith in Jesus, believing and receiving Him into our hearts, we are made alive in Him!

Jesus is Light unquenchable. Light can never be overcome by darkness. John 1:5 says, “The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” No darkness can and ever will overcome or extinguish Jesus.

“John came as a witness, to testify concerning that Light, so that through him all men might believe. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (John 1:7-9). John knew it was not his responsibility to attract people to himself, but to bring them to Christ. In the same way, we are to be reflectors of the Light so that people might believe in Him.

Jesus is the Savior of sinners. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth,” says John 1:14. Jesus is God revealed in the flesh. In John 1:29, John sees Jesus coming toward him and he says, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

This is a truth that echoes all the way from Genesis 3, the fall of man. Before God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden, He made garments from animal skins and by His grace, clothed them with it. This is a picture of how Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be slain to cover the shame of our sinfulness. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see the shed blood of a spotless lamb as a guilt offering for sin. Sin must be paid for by the shedding of blood and for centuries lamb after lamb was sacrificed daily at the Temple. Then one day, John saw Jesus and declared loudly that He is the Lamb, who once and for all takes away sins of the world, forever. “Christ is our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). He who knew no sin became sin for us on the cross so that we, who certainly know sin, might become the righteousness of God in Him. John testifies that this same Lamb is “the Son of God” (John 1:34). The God of the universe has become the Lamb to be our full and final sacrifice for sin.

“He who believes in Him is not judged,” says John 3:18. “He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” There are two kinds of people: those who believe in Jesus, and those who are already judged because of unbelief. Which category do you fall under? More importantly…

What will you do with this Jesus? What will you do with Jesus, who is the Son of God, and has done so much for you? If you are a believer, worship Him! Be a witness for Him! Let your life’s desire be to know Jesus and to make Him known to others.

If you are not yet a believer but want to receive Him into your life, you can do so at this very moment. Believe that Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb and that He died on the cross in your place. His promise is that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

You need Jesus. Just between you and God, bow your head right now and pray from your heart. Tell your Creator and Savior that You believe in Him and receive Him as your Lord and Master. Then you will have Jesus forever. He will never leave you. He loves you.

Source: http://www.ccf.org.ph/sunday-messages/?sermon_id=56