Young Life: my favorite starter pack

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Yesterday, as I was scrolling through Twitter, I came across this:

Before I continue, I must tell you this: I thought it was a little funny. Senseless? Probably. A little rude? Yes . . . but 90% of my twitter feed seems to be a little irrational and judgmental–during football games, during elections, and then about Sunday through Saturday. I am not angry. In fact, I laughed out loud (literally) when I read this. I do not think our friend, Rich Homie Yuan, is stupid. I also do not think he is “brilliant” or “spot on” like so many people who replied to this tweet. Honestly, I chuckled because I used to be Mr. Yuan.

I disliked Young Life for a very long time. I thought it was hypocritical. I thought it was pointless. I thought the people were fake. I sometimes thought it was for the weak or the inferior…

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[temporary] HEARTBREAK

As teenagers, a lot of us start dating. It can be so great and exhilarating. You get to know someone who may have been a friend or maybe a stranger like the back of your hand. The two of you get to experience so much together. Although this is all so great, dating ends in one of two ways- marriage or breakup. Recently I was in my first real serious relationship. We were at it for a little over a year. One day something just changed. When you realize that things are no longer the same, it really hurts and you know what’s coming next. After a breakup, it’s really hard to get back to the old you.

  The places that you used to go to together, you can no longer go because memories come flooding back. The hundreds of pictures you guys took… going through and deleting all those off of your phone, well that’s the worst. When you realize that his friends that you loved, well they are HIS friends. You close your eyes and there they are. You dream about them. You are heart broken.

Although this feeling lasts a while and it just straight up sucks {there’s not really a nicer way to put it} I promise one day we will be okay.

I was roaming twitter a couple days after my break up and saw something i loved that i want to share, it goes like this;

God says, “the reason some people have turned against you and walked away from you without reason, has nothing to do with you. It is because they cannot go where I am taking you next. They will only hinder you in your next level because they have already served their purpose in your life. Let them go and keep moving. Greater is coming.” Says The Lord.

   Yes it hurts now and it probably will for a while but think about what wonderful person God has planned for you to spend the rest of your life with. Someone is going to love you with all their heart and try to give you the world for most of their life. So when memories are flooding back or you’re tempted to text or call them, just remember, one day you are going to find better. One day you will be okay. This is one of Gods many promises to us.

Little Brother//Best Friend

At the beginning of the school year my contemporary literature teacher asked us to find a photograph that means a lot to us. I went home, ruffled through my photos and scrapbook and just one stuck out to me. My teacher said I should share it with the person it was about, I’m going to do one better. I’m going to share it with the world. So here it goes:

My picture is on a five by seven sheet of photo paper with a matte’ finish. The two children pictured are my youngest brother Joshua and I. He was about three and a half. I was five. This photograph was taken at our grandparents home, whom I now live with, apart from Josh who lives with his mother (my adopted mom) and our step-dad.

We were so happy, my brother and I. So ignorant and oblivious to the hurt that lay ahead. Smiles, big and as bright as the sun on a mid-summers eve. It was a hot summer day in fact. Sitting in our matching baby pools, mine purple, his blue. I can’t forget our matching pool innertubes, mine pink, Josh’s green.

This photograph is special and close to my heart because no matter how much we claim we don’t like each other, we really love each other. We’ve faced many hardships together like dealing with my biological family, his parents divorce, and his mother and step-dad moving around. Not to mention our two other brothers are much older than us so we can relate to each other the most. I can at least. Josh is so smart and no matter how much we argue, he is kind and deep inside he has a soft side. I’m lucky enough to have seen it a couple times even though it’s rare. He is not only my little brother, he is my best friend, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I Love You [love]

I love you. Three words that people claim we throw around too much. I say that we don’t tell people this enough.

Who are you to tell someone when they can tell a person they love them? Who are you to tell someone they are too young to know what love is? Have you ever thought these three words could have an impact on someone’s day? Seriously, go up to someone today and tell them you love them I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Love is not just a word, its not just a feeling, its a bunch of feelings mixed together; happiness, sadness, confusion, exhaustion, joyfulness, depression, etc. When people hear the word “love” I guarantee you most people tie it in with happiness. But think about it; a lot of us love our parents even though they may frustrate us to the point that we want to pull our hair out. Significant others, oh boy we love them but sometimes we get jealous or overprotective and become filled with worry. Love is so much more than being happy.

Love is that heart wrenching feeling you get when you see your significant other talking to another person that you think is 100x more attractive than you. Love is that sick feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you think you are going to lose your girlfriend/ boyfriend because of stupid mistakes or arguments. Love is the feeling of neglect you get when your parents or guardians pay more attention to a younger sibling. Love is the tears that well up in your eyes when a loved one gets married and is moving on to bigger and better things or maybe the heart break you feel when someone you are close to passes away.

People are correct when they say love is more than a word but very wrong then they say we say it too much. I believe we don’t say it enough.

my VIP, my YL leader

  We all hope to have those friends who truly love you, I found mine.
About two years ago Megan became not only my younglife leader but my close friend. Not many people will ask you how your life has been since the last time you saw them and truly and sincerely listen. Not many people will pick you up every Monday and Wednesday to take you to a bible study. Not many people will wake up early to take you to get your prom hair done, or come to your homecoming pictures, or go on endless panera and chipotle dates and tell you amazing stories and honest facts about our God the Father; and not many people want you to love Jesus more than you love them. But Megan does. You are so wonderful and such a blessing to me. Thank you for being a great sister in Christ and pursuing me when I just want to give up. Jesus works through you so much and I’m so glad He’s having you help guide me to Him. Thank you my sweet friend.

Get the best of senior year; Don’t let senior year get the best of you.

  We are told senior year is supposed to be a time you’ll never forget. Its supposed to be the greatest year of your life. But what makes this true? Being the leaders of the student section at football games? Prom? Off campus lunch? Senior tag? Yes, all this stuff is great but you know why I’m excited for senior year? I’m excited to be a leader in my school. I’m ready to take on the under classmen and be role models.

Often seniors let being the oldest of the school get the best of them. Some talk bad of the lower classmen. Some start partying; drinking, smoking, drugs. Some don’t change at all. As seniors we need to step up and be true leaders and role models of the school. Little things matter… Ask a lower classmen to sit with you at lunch or go to a football game with you; reach out to the kids that may not be considered popular; or it could be something as simple as say hi to a new freshman everyday in the hallway. I promise it will make a difference. Don’t let being a senior get the best of you. Reach out, be a friend.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

As a teenager in highschool we are confronted with so many questions and decisions; what are good enough grades, what time or how many goals do I have to get to make the varsity team, am I going to be popular or be considered an outcast, what am I going to do when I get out of highschool? These are all really hard questions but when I began highschool the hardest question I was confronted with was, “Are you a Christian?” or “Do you believe in God?”

My answer: I don’t know, do I?

Although I have been raised by a Christian grandmother since the age of 8 I never really understood what being a Christian meant and I really didn’t want to understand. I used to believe that if there was a  “God” why have so many horrible things happened to me that I had no control over. I was just a baby. I was completely shut out to the possibility that there could be a higher power that was watching this horrible stuff happen to me, to my family, to the world.

Then my sophomore year of high school hit and my world changed forever.

As a freshman I kept getting asked to come to something called Younglife. I viewed it as a stupid youth group that talked about stupid stuff that I didn’t believe in so I was constantly turning peoples offers to take me, down. My sophomore year rolls around and a friend of mine who was a senior on my swim team kept pursuing me to go and would not leave me alone. I also thought wow its so cool that a senior cares so much about me so I decided to give it a shot. I went on one Wednesday night and I was hooked because it was a fun thing not because I was learning about this man named Jesus Christ. I went back every week. Later that year in November we went to something called Fall Weekend. It was younglife for a whole weekend!

Fall weekend was a ton of fun, little did I know that my last night there was I going to except Jesus into my life and admit to him I needed him to guide me.

Ever since I’ve been a strong younglife goer. I’ve been to two fall weekends, two summer camps, and I go to younglife and the bible study we have on Mondays called campaigners all the time!

For anybody who may take the time to read this, even if you go to a school that doesnt have a program like younglife or maybe your out of school, I push you to learn about Jesus. My relationship with Him didn’t necessarily make my life all rainbows and sunshine’s but it is so much better because I have a person to confide in with any problem, and the best part is HE ALWAYS FORGIVE YOU.

p.s. the pic above is my first fall weekend where God became the biggest priority in my life.

A Wee Bit About Me

My name is Justys (pronounced Justice). Odd spelling I know, but I believe it adds to my odd yet fun and tasteful personality. I’m 17 years old and a senior in high school. I created this personal blog because I absolutely love writing and what’s easier to write about than yourself, what you love doing, and your experiences as you begin to take your steps into adulthood? I’m keeping this introduction short to keep more stories and adventures about myself for later blogs, I hope you come along for the journey into my life. (: