Tag: Christian teen

Monthly Wrap Up | October 2022

Q'ZionLeave a comment

Hey, hey, hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome to The Joys and Trials of a Christian Teen. And no, we are not dreaming; it’s really already November! To be honest, October was like a fun roller coaster ride, for me. It was super fun, but it also went by crazy fast.

Either way, I really enjoyed myself, last month, and I’d like to share some of my experiences with you guys! So without further ado, let’s get into the October ’22 monthly wrap-up!

My Life

  • It’s been a while since I’ve given you all an update on my fitness journey. While I’ve been a little slow lately when it comes to walking outside three days a week, me and Goodmommy have been finding other creative ways to get some exercise. We’ve even been following along to workouts that we find on YouTube. At first, it took some adjusting but now I look forward to adding more variety to my fitness routine!
  • I officially started National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, and so far, I’ve added nearly 2,000 words. I plan to write about 50,000 words by November 30th. Is it a crazy goal? Maybe a little bit. But I’m so stoked about my new story, and I can’t wait to read the finished product.
  • Experimenting with photography is another thing that I’ve been working on. Lately, I’ve been working with capturing different angles and objects (such as trees, or the sunset) as well as looking at different perspectives to capture a shot. I think that October might be my best month this year as far as my photography goes, because I took quite a few gorgeous pictures!
This photo is definitely one of my faves :> All Rights Reserved.

Books I Read

While I’ve bought a lot of books, this month flew by so quickly that I wasn’t able to finish any of them. But, there are a few that I started, so I’ll be sharing a brief review of my first impressions of each one. However, you may look at my more in-depth opinion in my last book haul. Let’s go!

  • The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin — Basically, this novel that I found at The Dollar Tree (yes, you heard correctly) is intriguing and confusing at the same time. It’s about a small school that consists of grades 1-8. It takes place in a class of 11 students–also known as the entire 7th grade–who idolized their classmate Paulie Fink. It’s kind of at a stand-still right now. Like, I know what’s happening but I don’t know what’s happening. Either way, it seems like a pretty fun book, so I’ll likely get back into it when I’m not so busy.
  • Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: Book I by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger — honestly, Goodmommy was the one who ended up picking out this book for me. I really love the originality that it includes with a variety of true stories, poems, and other types of creative writing by teenagers and adults about their teenage years. There’s so many lessons in this book that I think that any teenager could learn/benefit from!
  • Savvy by Ingrid Law — to be honest, I couldn’t have read much more than 20 pages of this one (if that many) but it’s probably because beginning took a long time to get off the ground. Everything was so slow paced that it kind of lost my interest quickly, which was suprising because its one of my new books that I was the most excited about. But considering that it’s just the beginning of the book, I’ll get back into it eventually to see if things get more exciting.
  • Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek — Out of all the books that I’ve read this month, this one has got to be the cutest! In a nutshell, it’s about a shy girl with anxiety who gains confidence when she saves a baby goat named Butter. So far, the beginning of this novel has been pretty promising, and I’m super excited to see where this story goes next!
All Rights Reserved.

Series I Watched

  • One of my favorite series ever is The Mysterious Benedict Society, which is an exclusive series on Disney+. It’s about a group of smart, yet neglected kids who make a band of do-gooders to save their city from a conundrum called the Emergency. To me, this series is the perfect mix between adventure, mystery, fantasy, and the wholesome friendships that dominate a film. And what’s even cooler is that they just released season 2!
  • It’s been a long time since I’ve binged-watched this series, but I recently took a dive back into That’s So Raven. I think most teenagers and young adults can agree that it’s probably one of the most nostalgic sitcoms of the 20th century. While Raven’s Home is a decent sequel, I don’t think it compares to the original.
  • I have a lot of Disney Channel shows that I really love, but one of my ultimate favorites is Good Luck Charlie, just because it’s such a wholesome and quirky show. No matter how much I see the episodes, they never fail to make me laugh 100 times over.
  • Occasionally, I also tend to watch the show Walk the Prank. In about the 3rd or 4th grade, I used to watch this show almost every day after school. And while I don’t watch it all that much now, it’s really nice to look back at it when I need a little laugh. There’s something about childhood shows that’s just so comforting.
All Rights Reserved.

My Favorite Posts of the Month

I wrote and published a total of 13 posts, this month! Hooray! I’m honestly not mad at the number, because I think every single post I made was super good, and that’s what matters most as a writer! While I loved all the posts that I published in October of 22′, there were a few that stood out to me:

And that was the monthly wrap-up of October of 2022! Hopefully, you all enjoyed seeing the highlights of last month for me. Please comment down below, which post of mine last month did you enjoy the most? Also, what was YOUR favorite part of last month?

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everyone! God bless you all and I’ll catch you later! Peace in! ♡

Monthly Wrap-Up | September 2022

Q'ZionLeave a comment

Hey, everyone! My name is Q’Zion, and welcome back to my corner of the Internet! Oof, I just realized that it’s been 5 days since I last posted. I’m so sorry, y’all: it’s been a really busy few days! But thank God I got through it with flying colors! And I’m back with my monthly wrap-up of September of 2022.

Today I’ll be discussing some of my favorite moments from this month, with some of the novels I’ve finished and films I’ve watched sprinkled in between. Okay, okay–enough of the chatter. Let’s get started!

My Life

  • My birthday was this month, and I’ve got to say that it was the best birthday ever. (But just wait until I say the same thing next year.😂) My favorite gift was probably my second ear piercing! I got my first one when I was a baby, so being able to experience getting a piercing for the first time was an experience that I’ll never forget. You can look at my 2022 birthday post here!

  • I realized that in the past few months, I’ve been reading (and actually finishing) more books! In fact, ever since I joined Book Club last year, I feel like I’ve started getting into the swing of things again when it comes to reading every month. And that’s a huge relief, because I could never imagine my life without books!
  • Goodmommy and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, this month. As part of our fitness journey, we’ve been experimenting with flourless cookie recipes, and so far we’ve made peanut butter cookies, dark chocolate oat cookies, and fudge chocolate cookies, which were made from hot chocolate mix. While the peanut butter cookies were my favorites, they were all fun to bake and taste!

  • I’ve had at least one club meeting for each of my clubs now (which are Creative Writing, Glee, and Teen Driving Club). Even though most of the clubs are way different then what I was anticipating to join, this year, I couldn’t be happier with my choices! They make school days so much more, eventful, if you know what I mean.

Books I Read

  • Guts by Raina Telgemeier (link to review) – I’ve been a fan of Raina’s books since I was eight years old, and after finally getting my hands on the triology of her Smile series, I have to say that it didn’t disapoint. From the protagonist’s quirky character to the elementary school nostalgia, this book is the perfect gift for any tween or teenager–not to mention the perfect new addition to my growing graphic novel collection.
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullay Hunt (link to review) – Although I love to read more than most things in this world, I’m hard to impress when it comes to giving a book five stars. But Fish in a Tree is one of the few novels to win that award. From the lessons of friendship, self-esteem, and being yourself, to the character development, iconic quotes, and heartfelt moments, this novel is officially one of my new favorites.
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks – I don’t want to reveal too much about this one because my review on it isn’t out yet . . . but this was SUCH an inspiring book! Zoe reminded me so much of myself, and the pace of the story was just right to keep things moving without being hard to follow. It’s so hard to believe that this was Janae Marks’ debut novel. In fact, her second novel, A Soft Place to Land, is now on my TBR (to be read) list!

Movies That I Watched

  • An Unlikely Angel – This film was such a beautiful reminder and demonstration of how God gives us second chances. Overall, there were a lot of funny and tense moments in this movie–a bit of an emotional roller coaster for the protagonist as we follow her on her journey to learning how to be a mother. If you’re a Christian who likes sweet movies that are perfect for family movie night, I would highly recommend watching this film on Pureflix.
  • The Mystery of Her – To be honest, I was really excited to watch this movie as soon as we turned on the trailer. And for the most part I liked it . . . that’s kind of all I’ve got. This film was about a teenage girl who tries to find herself after loosing her memory in a car accident. At first, it was good, but it slowly became more and more confusing. The end was pretty open, so it kind of left it up to you to imagine how the girl’s story ended. Not my favorite kind of ending, but it was an okay movie overall.
  • Grace Unplugged – This. I absolutely LOVED this movie. The main character, Grace, is a newly-eighteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a pop star–like her father, who was a rock star that threw away his fame to sing at their local church. I really appreciated how this movie showed young audiences–especially Christian teens–what it means and looks like to go down the wrong path. But there were also some amazing characters in the film that helped Grace get back on track with pleasing the Lord–and finding herself in the process. This film is definitely a must-see for any Christian teen/young adult.
  • The Way Home – To be honest, I didn’t watch the first half of this movie because I was busy watching YouTube videos and playing Roblox lol, but the second half was super emotional and pretty good, overall. And considering its about a community working together to try and find a missing two-year-old I expected that from the beginning. The ending was super heartwarming, and the fact that the film is based on a true story made this movie that much sweeter.

My Favorite Posts of the Month

So, we wrote a total of 11 post this month, 12 including this wrap-up, and I’ve got to admit that although I didn’t post a lot, I’ve written some really awesome posts, this month. I think I deserve a little self-pat-on-the-back. Anyway, here are some of my favorite posts of the month.

If you’d like to check out all the posts that I’ve written, this September, please check out THIS LINK!

I hope you all enjoyed reading what I was up to for the entire month! Overall, I really enjoyed myself these past thirty days, and I pray you all have, as well. And speaking of prayer, please send your prayers for all the victims of Hurricane Ian around the world. Your kind thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

What were your favorite parts of this month? I would love to hear your responses in the comments!

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! God bless you all and have a splendid weekend! ~ Q’Zion ♡

Happy Resurrection Day ♡

Q'Zion2 Comments

Thank God for a beautiful Resurrection Day! Me and Goodmommy, as well as some of our family, had a great time during praise and worship at today’s church service, this morning. All though we were tired from waking up so early, it is always a blessing to be in the House of the Lord with other followers of Christ.

Despite the fact that we are sinners, and we have all fell short of God’s Glory, He sent His one and only son to come on Earth and pay for our sins with the ultimate sacrificial love.

Although I didn’t write the poem the I will be sharing today (which is instead from an online article) it summed up what was in my heart perfectly. I hope you all enjoy it! 💛

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can’t understand him,

The armies can’t defeat Him,

The schools can’t explain Him, and

The leaders can’t ignore Him.

Herod couldn’t kill Him,

The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and

The grave couldn’t hold Him!

Nero couldn’t crush Him,

Hitler couldn’t silence Him,

Other religions can’t replace Him, and

The world can’t explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.

He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful

He is Jesus, the Sweetest most powerful Name that I know, and I L💛VE Him!

Have a beautiful and blessed Easter Sunday, everybody!

Remember that God is love, and regardless of what we do, His love for us will never falter; this is what He showed us when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died, rose, and lived again. Then, now, and forever. 💐

Whom Shall I Fear? | A Christian Poem ~ Reblog

Q'ZionLeave a comment

Hey, everyone! In honor of Good Friday–a day of remembrance and appreciation for what Jesus did for us–I will be reblogging a poem about the Prince of Peace today. The title that popped in my spirit was Whom Shall I Fear. It’s a poem based on Psalm 27:1, about how with Jesus, everything and anything is possible.

I hope that this poem will inspire you mightily. Enjoy! 

Whom shall I fear?

When You are the Lord of lords, and the King of kings

You are good and Your mercy endures

As your many angels sing



Whom shall I be afraid?

When You are my stronghold and my refuge

You’re always by my side

And I can’t deny that you always pick me up, at the oh-so-perfect time



Why shall I be wary?

When You are a promise keeper; You speak truth with your words

No love of any kind compares

To how Christ loves the church



Who am I to You, my Heavenly Father?

I’m the apple of your eye

A branch of the vine

You set me free and made me Your daughter



Who can come against me?

When You have won this battle

Before any hand can touch me

No matter where I travel



So, whom shall I fear?

When You are the leader of the world

The many boys and girls

And pure white pearls



Thank You, Jesus

I know this to be true

Because of who You are, there’s nothing to fear

Hence, my godly fear for You



- Whom Shall I Fear, Written by Princess Q’Zion on March 21, 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Overall, I had a lot of fun writing this poem. What I love about poetry is how you can use words to paint a picture. It’s almost like a painting, but you decorate the canvas with your words instead of art supplies. Plus, any creative platform that allows me to talk about the goodness of God is one that I favor.

Thank you so much for reading! Have a beautiful day, and God bless you all! 

Happy National Pet Day + more pictures of Peace 💖

Q'Zion1 Comment

The only pets that I’ve ever had in my life are betta fish. The first one was Easter, a female who was pink and orange with a quirky personality. Then Joyus came along–he was extremely spunky, stubborn, but loveable. He was a mix of shades of blue. And then came Peace, who I’ve had for about a month and a half now. P.S. the photo above is the first day that we brought him home.

April 11th is National Pet Day, and despite the fact that I didn’t figure that out until today, I still wanted to post something to celebrate. Besides, pets should be celebrated every day. They’re important members of our families and live in our hearts while (and even after) we get to love and enjoy them each day of their lives.

Although fish are some of the smallest pets that you can buy, and you can’t physically cuddle them like you could a cat or a dog, they are still amazing companions. Peace brings so much joy to our family with his bubbly spirit and love for food LOL. He isn’t afraid to check out new things because of his curious personality. We thank God for him every day.

While I sit at my desk to do my schoolwork or simply watch TV on the couch, it always puts a grin on my face to see Peace zipping along his tank as if there’s no tomorrow. Even when he’s asleep, his colors remain vibrant and reflecting of his personality.

Each day is an opportunity to learn something new about him. For example, Peace is a really fast learner–we feed him on top of this large leaf hammock that attaches to the side of the tank close to the surface of the water. And we were able to train him in no time!

Although we as pet owners cherish our pets all the time, days like this (and National Pet Week, which is in the first week of May) are here to appreciate them and the light that they bring to our families just a little more. So don’t forget to give your pet some extra love, sometimes~trust me, they’ll appreciate it!

So, do you have any pets? If so, which of their personality traits do you like the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! Bye for now! 💖

Take a Leap of Faith – Words of Wisdom #12

Q'ZionLeave a comment 
Hebrews 11:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

It can be easier to stay in your comfort zone. It can be more comfortable to stick with what’s familiar–with what you’ve always done. But the truth is, an important skill that we should all have in life is the ability to walk by faith and outside of what’s familiar. Because, if we’re always staying in that little box of comfort, how are we going to get to the next destination that God has along our path?

There is a season for everything. And during each season of our lives, God might want us to keep doing what we’re doing for a while. But just like every season must start, every season must come to pass, at some point and time.

At some point, we may not understand why God is calling us to go to the next destination. But the thing is, God told us not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge and trust Him. And when we do, He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we walk in faith, we are not walking because we understand where we are going or why we are going there. But we are doing so because we know that God, who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13), is and will be with us every step of our journey.

Here are some ways to keep the faith throughout life’s challenges:

  • Pray–ask God every day to give you strength to take a leap of faith. Be honest about what you need. In addition, thank Him for what He has blessed you with–there’s always something (and more than one thing) to be thankful for.
  • Read Bible verses about hardship, faith, and overcoming to get inspired.
  • Spend time with other believers–fellowship can be a great way to build your faith in the Lord.
  • Believe and confess that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, if you haven’t already–this is the first step to living a faith-filled life.

Thank you so much for reading another addition to the Words of Wisdom series. Don’t forget that we shouldn’t leap with our own understanding, but with the understanding of what God says in His Word. As long as we have faith in Him, the Lord will provide us with everything that we need, and more.

Have a beautiful and blessed day everyone! “See” you next time! ✨

The Biblical Meaning of a Rainbow – Words of Wisdom #11

Q'Zion3 Comments 
Psalm 145:13 New International Version (NIV)
13    ...The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.

There is no doubt that rainbows are beautiful. Whenever I see a line of beautiful colors, it makes me feel happy to know that God put it within my eyes’ reach. As soon as I saw that it’s National Find a Rainbow Day, I knew that this would be the perfect topic to blog about.

And, speaking of rainbows, the question of the day is, what exactly is God saying to us when He places a rainbow for us to see? What message does a rainbow convey? Thankfully, the answer (just like the large majority of the questions that we may have in life) is found in the Holy Bible.

Genesis 9:13-16 New International Version (NIV)
13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

As scripture confirms, the rainbow is a symbol representing God’s promise to us that He will never flood this Earth again to destroy life of all kind. In other words, He will not repeat the same scenario that occurred when He flooded the Earth and commanded Noah to make an ark to carry himself, his family and a male and female animal of every species.

The rainbow is evidence of how The Lord is a promise keeper, and He will do what He says He will do. It is one way that God shows us who He is and how much He loves us. Thank God that He is not like man, who will break a promise in a heartbeat. Let’s talk real, people: If God was like man, we wouldn’t be here.

That’s exactly why whenever I see a rainbow, I always say: Thank You, Jesus.

Have a beautiful and blessed day, everybody! See you next time! 🌈

When was the last time you told your family ‘I love you’?

Q'ZionLeave a comment

In my home, we tell each other ‘I love you’ multiple times a day. In the morning when we wake up, throughout the day and before we go to sleep. And by family I don’t necessarily ONLY mean people that are blood related–I mean the people who love us, care about our well being, and are present in our lives.

We all have people who are constantly supporting us through it all, and those are the same people who deserve an ‘I love you’ for their contributions in our lives.

To be honest, I believe ‘I love you’ should be spoken as well as showed through actions. The words are extremely colorful in the sense that they can be said (or shown) in more ways than one. And these are some examples:

  • give them a hug
  • treat them to breakfast in bed (only if you are 16 or older and/or your parents allow you to cook unattended)
  • be patient and listen more
  • leave a motivational note
  • spend quality time
  • let someone else choose what movie to watch or game to play during family time
  • say ‘I love you’–that’s probably the simplest, of all of these ideas LOL

Showing our family that we care about them isn’t hard~all it takes is a simple ‘I love you’ and a few actions to show it, here and there. Out of all the people in the world, it’s those who love us the most who need to know that we appreciate them. Don’t forget; the next second, the next minute, the next hour, nor the next day on this Earth are promised for ANYONE.

Therefore, make the most of every day, and never let a day go by without telling your loved ones ‘I love you.’

Have a beautiful day, everybody! God blessed you all! ✨

Wherever You Go, Sprinkle Love – Words of Wisdom #10

Q'Zion2 Comments 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV (New International Version)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

8 Love never fails. …

If you’ve ever wondered what true love is, then this scripture sums it up completely. God is love, and He showed us how much He loves us when He sent His only Son to die for us and give us eternal life, so long as we confess with our mouth that He is God and believe in our hearts that He died for us and rose 3 days later. (Romans 10:9)

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is important that we continue to be evangelists for God by spreading His love. There are many different ways to spread God’s love to others. Whether you do something for a specific person, or a simple act towards a complete stranger, spreading the love of God is always a blessing that we should act upon in our everyday lives.

Here are a few simple ways to spread the Love of God:

  • Be proactive in loving like God — If you ever have trouble with this one, please write down the scripture at the top of this post. We are told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. (Leviticus 19:18)
  • Do simple acts of kindness — The Love of God can be shown in many ways. Sometimes, all it takes is a little kindness.
  • Learn to forgive others — Forgiveness does not have to be for the other person. Nor does the person who hurt you have to remain in your life. When we forgive, we are making sure that we are right with God and that we maintain a spirit of love and a pure heart.
  • Be a cheerful giver — This one sort of speaks for itself. The Bible says that to be a cheerful giver, we must “sow bountifully” if we want to “receive bountifully.” In other words, we need to be willing to give freely and without hesitation in order for God to bless us abundantly. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
  • Pray for people — This can be tough, sometimes. Particularly when it comes to praying for your enemies. But the Bible says to love your neighbors and your enemies. (Matthew 5:43-48) Sometimes praying for people means asking God to help someone that you hold close to your heart (family, friends, etc.) Other times, it can mean that you are asking God to teach us how to forgive, and to help our enemies to see His glory.

✨✨✨💜✝️💜✨✨✨

Words of Wisdom is probably one of my favorite (if not THE favorite) series on my blog, and I hope you enjoyed this new episode. Thank you so much for reading about sprinkling love.

Please like this post, and follow me if you haven’t already, for more daily content!

Have a fantastic rest of your day, everybody! And always remember that God is love.

Whom Shall I Fear? | A Christian Poem

Q'Zion2 Comments

Hey, everyone~Happy Monday! ❤️ Since today is World Poetry Day, what better way to celebrate than to write a poem? The title that popped in my spirit was Whom Shall I Fear. It’s a poem based on Psalm 27:1, about how with Jesus, everything and anything is possible.

I hope that this poem will inspire you mightily. Enjoy! ❤️

Whom shall I fear?

When You are the Lord of lords, and the King of kings

You are good and Your mercy endures

As your many angels sing



Whom shall I be afraid?

When You are my stronghold and my refuge

You’re always by my side

And I can’t deny that you always pick me up, at the oh-so-perfect time



Why shall I be wary?

When You are a promise keeper; You speak truth with your words

No love of any kind compares

To how Christ loves the church



Who am I to You, my Heavenly Father?

I’m the apple of your eye

A branch of the vine

You set me free and made me Your daughter



Who can come against me?

When You have won this battle

Before any hand can touch me

No matter where I travel



So, whom shall I fear?

When You are the leader of the world

The many boys and girls

And pure white pearls



Thank You, Jesus

I know this to be true

Because of who You are, there’s nothing to fear

Hence, my godly fear for You



- Whom Shall I Fear, Written by Princess Q’Zion on March 21, 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Overall, I had a lot of fun writing this poem. What I love about poetry is how you can use words to paint a picture. It’s almost like a painting, but you decorate the canvas with your words instead of art supplies. Plus, any creative platform that allows me to talk about the goodness of God is one that I favor.

Thank you so much for reading! Have a beautiful day, and God bless you all! ❤️