I hope these resources can help you and please also pray about these serious dangers on our youth as you read these news articles. Thank you for caring and praying. With love and prayers from your librarian.
1. Self-harming in our youth is prevalent and has gone up significantly since the pandemic. This is a pre-pandemic survey report of 65,000 high school teenagers in the USA public schools. 1 out of 4 teen girls reported self-harming themselves. I’m sure the numbers are higher since the pandemic, as eating disorders are much higher too. They seem to go hand-in-hand. – https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/02/health/self-harm-teenagers-cdc.html
There are many resources and clinicians who try to help these youth and give adults an understanding on why the youth are self-harming themselves so much today. Whatever the causes and hypothesis, I find this pastor’s message very compelling and challenging for the church. He speaks about the tormented young man living in the graveyard who was cutting himself with stones before Jesus showed up to deliver him. – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205&version=NIV
http://sermons.tsc.nyc/what-is-deliverance/
It seems that parents are the last ones to know about their child’s self-harming since they hide it well. Pray that God will reveal these hidden things to you as soon as possible, since early professional care intervention is the better indicator of therapy success. Praying and fasting is critical and necessary work for the parents while their children are receiving therapy care.
2. I’m not sure if you can read this WSJ article about fentanyl-laced opioid drugs. It talks about the history of this potent drug. Mexican drug cartels took over the business in 2010 after the Chinese government severely cracked down the illegal production in their country. But now it’s even worse off for the USA since it has flooded our country and schools. It is a very dangerous situation since fentanyl-laced opioid drugs are super highly addictive, and its synthetic makeup is also so unpredictable that it can kill you on your first try. These drugs were distributed in the west coast schools and today it has saturated our east coast schools as well. I’ve read reports that during the pandemic many people returned back to their alcohol and drug addictions. Please pray that our schools and church communities will educate and warn our children, teenagers and young adults in effective and powerful ways. Death is final. – https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-is-fentanyl-drug-opioid-health-safety-explained-11658341650
3. “Contending for your kid” is a great reminder that Satan wants our children. Our prayers have a tremendous impact and fights for them. Please read this message, be informed and do not ever give up on contending for your kids. – https://www.derekprince.org/Articles/1000153830/DPM_USA/Partner_Letters/Contending_for_Your.aspx
4. I really loved reading this mom’s testimony about her young teen daughter. Please read this for your encouragement and also say the prayers shared for your children and grandchildren’s new school year. Our local MIP group has been praying for a student club to be formed in our public schools since our inception. Perhaps this year…? Please join us in praying for courageous and passionate students to rise up. They have to be the ones to initiate and form a club in the schools.
5. The enemy targets marriages to destroy it – I noticed especially before the children enter their teen years. Nurturing them into independent and successful young adulthood is going to take about ten years of intense roller coaster ride for parents. It will be much easier if you have a healthier marriage or peaceful unity with your ex. I’ve attached picture files that I think you will find useful in relationship conflicts. One is a cheat sheet created by Toni Nieuwhof (the Canadian pastor, Carey’s wife that I told you about last week). She also wrote a book called “Before You Split”. Here is the link to her book:
Pastor Tim Dilena talks about conflicts in relationships, drawing from his 40 years of pastoral ministry work in counseling Christian marriages. It is worthwhile to listen and be reminded of these biblical teachings even if all your relationships are good and healthy.
http://sermons.tsc.nyc/getting-to-the-root-of-the-conflict/
6. Open Doors ministry:
I am the only believer in my nuclear family. I know many of you have been praying for my husband and children’s salvation for 12 years alongside with me. Thank you! Please keep on praying for them. Sometimes when I seem intense in my faith, it is because that’s the only way to follow Jesus Christ everyday. However, after studying early church history and today’s fierce persecution against Christians in many countries; we in the USA really have nothing to complain about. If you want to follow news reports about our persecuted Christians, please subscribe to Open Doors ministry newsletter to pray and support them. They really need our help. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/
Journal of Faith 