Happy Retro Day! In the spirit of summer, I decided to recycle a past devo for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! ~ Halee

by Assistant Editor Halee Matthews

Let’s pretend you’re barely past your teens, dedicated to your family, and a hard-worker. You’ve been working on your father’s farm since childhood. You have one younger brother who can be a pain, but, well, he’s your brother.

One day, that brother decides he’s had enough of hard work. He hits your dad up for money and takes off. So you step up. You do extra chores and work harder to make up for your brother’s absence. It’s tough but you’re dedicated to making sure the farm runs well.

After a hard day of work in the field, you return to the house to find a party. You find out that your brother has returned so your dad decided to celebrate.

The news throws you for a loop. A party… for what? For running away and leaving you with extra work? For wasting his money and coming home only because he was starving? (more…)

By RTF Editor Halee Matthews

Submitted to the grave,

To do battle for my soul,

My Lord, my God.

Souls of the world to save,

His broken body death’s toll,

My Lord, my Saviour. (more…)

By Editor Halee Matthews

I stared at the scuff mark on my shoe.

One fabulously bright streak of white began at my toe, running along the side toward the back.

A white streak? Really? Aren’t most scuff marks black?

Just my luck. Especially since I was wearing black shoes. (more…)

Dear Halee,

I’m almost too ashamed to say it, but sometimes I cheat. I’m really bad at math so I do it to pass. I want to stop, but it’s so hard. What do I do?

- Alex* (more…)

(photo courtesy of Toshiharu Kato/American Red Cross)

If you’ve seen a tv or newspaper lately, you’re probably aware of what’s happening in Japan right now. But just in case you missed it, here’s a recap:

- On Friday, Japan suffered a severe earthquake which triggered a tsunami (think of it like glass in a water… if you shake the glass, you get waves. Well, the earth shook and it caused the ocean to move in waves over 30 feet high).

- Several nuclear plants have suffered major damage which workers are scrambling to repair.

- Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes/possessions and are living in temporary shelters.

You may be asking, What can I, a teen sitting at home, do about this? (more…)

by Assistant Editor Halee Matthews

I know you’ve been there (I definitely have!) – sitting at a desk with only a few pieces of paper and a pencil when your mind goes blank. Everything you ever learned flies right out the window while A, B, C, and D glare at you, daring you to choose the wrong one.

Just one look.. a quick glance right or left could help you think, maybe point you toward the answer you already know but just can’t remember right now.

What could it hurt? (more…)

Merry Christmas! We hope you all have a fantastic break from school (do I hear cheering?) and a wonderful celebration of the birth of our Savior. Enjoy this take on a classic carol from Hawk Nelson.

~ Halee

P.S. If you need to talk, we’re still here: realteenfaith(at)gmail.com.

Welcome back! Here’s the rest of my music gift ideas (and don’t forget to leave a comment about your favorite Christian music song/album to be entered to win a cd!).

Pop

Reinvention by Superchick

This pop/rock album is full of songs that will make you want to get out of your seat. From Cross the Line which boldly declares, “Revolutions start when someone crosses the line,” with support from bass, electric guitars, and strong drum beats, to Let It Roll, which almost has the feel of a reggae ballad, this group belts out messages of life. In true Superchick fashion, all of these songs highlight the experiences of everyday people, and combine them with personal promises to really live instead of watching and worrying. Anyone on your gift list will be able to relate to Superchick’s lyrics. (more…)