While many of you High School Seniors are finishing up your college applications, it seems a good time to start hunting around for scholarship money. Since college tuition is increasing at a significantly higher rate than inflation, college isn't as inexpensive as it once was. The more you get in scholarship and grant money, the less you have to pay pack once you get out of school.

So, where do you go for scholarships? Well, many Christian teens have no idea where to look. There are plenty of websites that offer scholarship listings, but it also helps to talk to people at your church, local businesses, and even go to the library. Plus, you want to make sure you avoid scholarship scams that are only interested in taking your money rather than helping you pay for school.

Also, plan your free time wisely. Most scholarship applications take time and effort to fill out, so be sure you are able to give each one some good attention. The more effort you put into you scholarship and grant applications, the more successful you will be at raising money for college.

• Top 6 Scholarship Sites
• Places to Find Money for College
• Scholarship Scams to Avoid

Every Christian teens needs to understand the basics of their faith. Whether you've been a Christian almost your entire life or just recently found your faith, it is important to make sure your foundation is solid. Remember, Jesus said that a house built on sand will never last (Matthew 7:25-27), and your faith is no different.

So what are some things you can do to make sure your faith is built on solid ground? Well, first and foremost, you need to make sure you are right with God. Take some time to pray and have a good conversation with Him about the things going on in your life. Not sure what to say? Write it out, sing it, draw it. However you feel most comfortable talking to God, put it out there for Him to see, hear, or feel. He knows you, and He will be there in any way you choose to communicate.

Sometimes Christian teens get so caught up in what they need to do as a Christian rather than who they are in God's eyes. Sure, God asks us to follow the Commandments and live righteous lives, but it's hard to do that on your own. Only through a relationship with God can we be strong enough to live the way He wants us to live. Getting yourself closer to God by building a relationship with Him sets a strong foundation for all the things to come.

• Understanding Prayer
• Basics of the Christian Faith

What are you grateful for this year? Next week American's celebrate Thanksgiving, which is a time to remember all the good things in your life. For most of us, we are very lucky to have things like family, friends, and our faith for which we can give thanks. We are privileged to have a roof over our heads, a school to attend, clothes to wear, and people who care about us.

Yet not everyone has those things, and for some of us Thanksgiving is hard. So while you may be making your list of things to be grateful for, try to remember to pray for those who have very little. Join in some outreach or mission that can give those people living without food or safety a little bit of joy on this holiday.

Then, don't forget to pray for the things God has given you that offer you comfort and happiness.

Ephesians 5:20 - "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV)

• Things Christian Teens Can Be Grateful For
• Outreach Activities for Christian Teens

Photo courtesy of Pricegrabber

Teens, both Christian and non-Christian, are all a-twitter lately over the new Twilight movie being released on November 21, 2008. It is so anticipated that some theaters have already sold out for the opening night, and it is the number one movie on movie ticket websites. Now, some Christian teens won't read the books because of their concerns over its content, as it is about vampires and werewolves, so they won't see the movie. Yet others read the books, since they do demonstrate values like saving sex until after marriage and overcoming temptations. The Twilight series was also written by Stephanie Meyer, who is reportedly a devout Mormon and a graduate of Brigham Young University. She even avoids doing any promotional work or writing on Sundays, and refused to add pre-marital sex to the novels, despite her publisher's urging.

Yet, despite some of the more positive themes in the books, it doesn't necessarily mean those values will transfer onto the screen - even if Stephanie Meyer had a strong hand in approving the script. However, it might be nice to see, for once, a teen movie that didn't promote sex before marriage and showed teens trying to be responsible (even if those teens have been around for a for 70, 80, 90 years or so). Yet, the fact that it does use creatures that many people consider "evil" to demonstrate those values may also turn Christian teens off.

Share your views on the new Twilight movie in the comments below.

• Should Christian Teens Be Reading Twilight?