Good morning friends! The winner from yesterday's devo is Hannah. Hannah, could you please send me your address to Lynn@Proverbs31.org?


For those of you who would still like to have the CD "He is THAT into you: Finding Perfect Love in the Heart of God", click here to purchase it from Proverbs 31.


Happy Wednesday!
Lynn

God Story

If you are joining me here today from my devotion with Proverbs 31 Ministries on Encouragement for Today, Welcome! My devotion was mistakenly linked to this blog which is no longer active. I'd love for you to click here to visit my current website at http://www.lynncowell.blogspot.com/.


If that's too much trouble, just relax and keep reading. As I promised today in my devotion, I wanted to share with you my all time favorite "God Stories". If you would prefer that I tell you the story, just watch the video below. You can skip to the time 9:47 to get right to it! Otherwise, just skip past this screen....






Greg and I first met at church in late spring when I was in sixth grade; he was in eighth. He called me and that was all it took. (There is just something about having someone like you first! Even more exciting was the fact that he was an older guy. Since we went to different schools and couldn’t drive, it quickly fizzled. The phone calls only came a couple of times and life returned back to normal. Or at least it did for Greg, but not for me. He was just not going to be one of those guys I got over. All through junior high I wrote his name all over my notebooks.


In ninth grade, my chance finally came. Our church was having a Valentine’s get together and Greg asked me. I was out of my mind! As a junior, he was a huge weight lifter (6’2”, 250 POUNDS!) and captain of the football team. His smile grabbed me. My parents let me go to the celebration, but since I wasn’t sixteen yet, I wasn’t allowed to “date”. Once again, the phone calls stopped.

Finally, I turned sixteen. I had decided to make a huge change in my life. Leaving the Christian school where I attended junior high, I transitioned to the high school two blocks from home. A couple of different motives came into play. Our youth pastor, PR, often encouraged us to share our faith with our non-Christian friends. Well I didn’t have any! So I decided it was time to get some. Motive number two was Greg.

It didn't quite go as I had planned. Honestly, my sophomore year was my worst. Greg’s locker was on the same floor as mine, so I would pass it and see him at least once a day. Even worse, his new girlfriend's locker was close by as well! Even though she was very nice, it was so hard not to be completely jealous of her! When she showed me a ring Greg had given her; my heart broke.
I didn’t do such a great job of controlling my thoughts; I let it all get to me. I remember sitting at home one weekend night, emo-type music pouring out of my speakers and crying my brains out. Why didn’t he like me?! What was wrong with me? The answer: nothing. It just wasn't God's plan for me to have a boyfriend at that time.
It took awhile, but I finally started to trust God. I quit trying to manipulate my relationships with guys and starting trusting him. When Greg was a junior in college, he decided that I was exactly what he was looking for. At that time, I was at Bible school. I shared with my counselor how the guy I had liked forever (seven years to be exact!) finally liked me. He had called me at school and said he was coming my way for spring break and was coming to see me. I could not have possibly been more excited. Then the bad news came: she reminded me I had made a commitment while I was at school I wouldn’t date. I had said I would give one hundred percent of my heart and attention to Jesus. Gently, she pointed out that it is impossible to give your all to two relationships at the same time (it wouldn’t be your all then, would it?). I knew she was right, but I did not want to hear that! I called Greg and told him that I couldn’t have a relationship with him. It was like ripping my heart out!
Seven months later, with school out; I went home to visit my parents. Guess who was at church? That’s right; Greg. We started dating and we were married a year later. I have been writing him verses ever since.
That history with God really built a foundation in my life; a stable start to knowing that He can be trusted each and every time in my life.
Do you have a young person who needs to learn to trust the Lord? My teaching CD "He is That Into You"might be a great thing to give them! I am giving away a copy today. Just click "comments" below to share how you are learning to trust God or just say "I'm in" and I'll include you!

Verses Every Girl Should Know!

Jesus is wild about us; we just need to KNOW that!
One way that we can do that is by replacing lies with His truth.

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

"My lover is mine and I am his..." Song of Solomon 2:16a (NIV)

"You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you." Song of Solomon 4:7 (NASB)

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord." Psalm 45:11 (NIV)

"God decided in advance to adopt us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure!" Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

Friendships That Are True

Will she talk about me behind my back? Will she keep a secret? I just don't know if I can trust her.

Thoughts like these tend to run through our head when we meet a new girl we think might make a new friend.

Spending time with the Lord this morning, I read this verse:

"A malicious man disguises himself with lips, but in his heart he harbors deceits." Proverbs 26:24 NIV

Malicious. Pretty big word for me and I wasn't all that sure I knew what it meant. To hate, be an enemy, to be unloved, shunned, to be an adversary or foe.

We've all met girls who have two faces; one in front of this group and another in front of that. So which girl is the real girl? Which one is the one trying to be your friend?

Before you decide whether or not a girl makes a great friend; know her. Truly know her. She may be trustworthy; she may be not. She may have had an experience where she has been betrayed; leaving her jaded or cynical. Bad experiences can make a girl be caddy; throwing out sarcasim for free. No one wants to be on the receiving end of painful words. When a person feels unloved, shunned or even hated, those same feelings can end up leaking their way out of their heart and often spill out onto others.

I have heard it said that wounded people wound people. It is a matter of self-defense for the heart.

When you meet a girl for the first time, what are you looking for in a friend and how do you know if she will be true? I know I could use some advice here! Just click on "comments" below!

How Far is Too Far?

Speaking at a conference recently, this question was asked: "How far is too far?"

There is a problem with that question. It's the wrong one. The real question should be, "How close can I get to Jesus so that all that is around me, all the temptations, fade?"

1 John 1:5 says "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (NIV) In Him, there is no darkness at all.

So, if you find yourself asking question #1: "How far is too far?" maybe it is because you are not pursuing #2; getting as close to Jesus as you possibly can be.

Kathleen Dillard said, "You have as much of Jesus as you want." Let's be honest and look at our lives. Are we girls who want Him so much that there is no darkness in our lives?

Hard question, but the evidence should make it easy to answer.

God is light; in him there is no darkness. Maybe it's time for a change.

Perfect Love for Imperfect Me

I had it going on (or at least I thought I did)! I was part of the youth leadership team at my youth group. I was a good student. I was involved in the elite music groups at school; even sang solos in church! I ran on the cross country team. I didn’t get in trouble or hang out with those who did. I had it going on – or did I?

I wonder if any of you are like that too. On the outside, do you appear to have it all together, but on the inside you really don’t. Every day you feel like you have to perform a certain way to keep up with the expectations of parents, teachers, coaches, and friends when all the while inside things are not quite the way that they seem. Maybe we believe that no one knows what we are really like; they don’t get us. They just see the exterior “show.” Well, I knew what was on the inside. I remember every few weeks, I would hear the sermon preached in church, take a look at my life and think that I needed to give my life to Jesus again. Surely when He looked at me, He felt disappointed in me.

The really cool thing about Jesus it that he knows it all, the stuff others see and the stuff they don’t see. He knows and he still loves every part of us – inside and out. Even when we make bad decisions, things we are ashamed of; things we would be mortified if our parents found out about, he knows and it doesn’t change the way he feels about us. It doesn’t erase his love for you!

“One of the lies I struggle with is that I am who I am based on what I do. Drawing closer to Him has helped me to realize that it is ok if I am not good at everything! Mariah, age 14

Grab your Bible and check out Psalm 139:1 – 18. Psalms is the book of the Bible found almost right smack in the middle. Once you find it, I want you to read these verses out loud so that you can hear what Jesus is saying to you! I know it is kind of long and you’ll feel weird, but go ahead! It’s really important for you to hear this truth as you read it out loud.

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” Psalm 139: 1 –18 NIV

Did you read that? Did you read that Jesus loves every part of you? Maybe you’ve heard the saying “love is blind”? Well this love isn’t! He has searched you. He knows you. He knows everything you do, everything you’ve done and everything you are going to do. Does any of it change the way he feels about you? No! Where can you flee from his presence? No where!

My friend, please know today that he is crazy for you. No matter what you've done or what is going on in your heart, it doesn't change the way he feels about you. Sure, there may be some changes to be made; big changes in fact. Just know, that he is right there loving you as you the two of you work through those changes together!

Right On Time

The screaming and whining could be heard all over the store. “But, Mommy, I want that one!” Passing by the toy department, I spotted the culprit. A little girl; I’d guess she was about 3 years old, was pitching a fit. Pointing to the beautiful china doll on the top shelf, she cried out again. “But, Mommy, I want that one!” I heard the mother trying to reason with her. “You really are not ready for that doll, honey. We need to pick a different one.” “I don’t want a different one! I want that one!” The child didn’t understand, or care, that the one she wanted was not the best doll for her. She just liked the way that it looked from afar and that was all that mattered.

My parents once gave me a gift I can still remember when I turned 16. On that sweet sixteen birthday, my parents gave me a unique keychain with a key to their car. I loved it! That key represented freedom; independence. Exactly what I was craving at that time! They took the time to pick out something they knew I would like. They planned ahead to have the key made. It was the right gift at the right time.

If, however, my parents had given me that exact same gift when I was 6, it would have been very strange; inappropriate even. At 6, I would have wondered what it was for. I wouldn’t have even known how to use it! My parents knew what to give and when to give it.

In James 1:17 we are told that God our Father gives good gifts to us, His children. Not only does He give good gifts, but He knows perfectly what to give and when to give it. His gifts are not spur of the moment because He forgot that a special day was on its way. His gifts are all about perfect timing.

When I was five, I couldn't reach my jacket that was hanging on the last peg just above the cement steps that led to our basement. I called out for help, but just refused to wait. A tumble down those steps produced a black eye that stayed with me for a very long time.I didn't trust that those who loved me would come and do what I needed when I wanted it.

The key is, can we wait patiently, all the while trusting that, in fact, His timing is perfect? Can we trust that He has our best in mind and is all the while working on our behalf?

Sometimes we are just like the 5 year old me. We grow impatient waiting for God’s gift. We want the gift and we want it now. So we make the mistake of trying to get the gift by ourselves. Have you ever tried to get something by yourself? Are you tempted, like me, to go and get it any way, even if there is a possibility that if it doesn't go just right you could end up with way more than a black eye?

There are times, with all of our prayers, (if we would admit it, maybe we are a bit like the screaming and whining child) He seems to be saying “no” or at least saying “not now”. It is here, in the place where our desires intersect His will, that we have to trust. It is here that we must trust that Father knows best and that every gift comes from the Father. Every time, in His time, the gift is good and it is perfect.

I have seen God's perfect gifts in my life as I have waited on Him. Waited on Him for a husband. Waited on Him to open doors for ministry. Waited on Him to draw my kids to Himself. Lord, I see my history with You. I'm going to choose to keep on waiting for your good and perfect gift.

Hearing Above the Noise

Quiet? When are we quiet? Our world is bombarded with noise from all directions...ipods, tvs's, radios, computers. Yet the Lord says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Do you carve out any time to come to God and be quiet? He promises that it is in the secret that we will find Him. A secret place. In order for a secret place to be secret doesn't it have to be quiet? If it wasn't, then it wouldn't be secret would it?

This weekend, get quiet. Spring is the perfect time to find a patch of grass, the shade of a tree, where you can pray, listen, read His words of love to you...

Get quiet. Find God :)

Letter to My 18 Year Old Self

I wrote a letter today to a dear girl who is turning 18 soon and will be heading off for college. It sure got my head thinking. Thought I would share it with you; maybe you are turning 18 soon as well....

Dear Sweetheart,

The other day I was thinking....if I was going to write a letter to my 18 year old self, what would I say? Because whatever I would say to her, is what I would want to share with you.

What I would say is it is worth it.
It is WORTH investing in your love relationship with Jesus. He is the only thing you can count on.

It is WORTH it to save your heart, mind and body to give away to just one man one day. I am so, so glad I did.

It is WORTH it to take risks to pursue not only what you love, but what you believe God created you to do.

It is WORTH it to say "no" to some things today, because it will mean you will get to say "yes" to the best.

It is WORTH it to stay close to your family; they are one of the only things that doesn't change.

It is WORTH to find your place in the body of Christ; we need each other.

It is WORTH it fill your mind with the truth of who you are in Him. If you don't, others will fill your mind for you.

It is WORTH it to count the cost now because the dividends are beyond this world.

You will grow, change and mature in the next few years unlike any other. You will make decisions that will impact the rest of your life. One choice at a time, you will create a path that has a likely outcome. Choose it carefully, honey. Forgiveness if free, but healing isn't. You are free to make wise and godly decisions. He'll speak; just be sure to always listen and obey.

All my Love,

Lynn

So Into Me

Don't leave home without it! That seems to be many teens' mottoes when it comes to cameras. There is an overwhelming need to capture everything that's done...to load onto FaceBook. Hours a day can be spent posting pics, updating statuses, and commenting on everything from songs to videos.

Is FaceBook and other social medias simply a replacement of the phone or is it more?

"Almost 60 percent of college students agreed with the statement "People in my generation use social networking sites for self-promotion, narcissism and attention-seeking." The amount of comments per day for some has become the scale where they measure their friendships and for others, their self-worth.

This generation was the first to have praise poured into you when you were small. You were the first generation of kids to receive trophies not for winning first place, but for playing. You were constantly told "You're the princess". While for some, this has been a positive thing. For others, it has fed that selfish heart that we have all been born with and it hasn't turned out good.

This can lead to big problems in life. "Narcissists have an inflated sense of self, so they're prone to take too many risks. And they've proven to be worse at maintaining relationships or working on teams, which you need to be able to do in most jobs." And might I add, to function as part of the body of Christ, to be a stable marriage partner and a balanced parent.

Be aware of the amount of time your're spending on these social medias and what you're posting there. Ask the Lord, "Is this a harmless outlet for me or have I made it more?" Then listen. He'll show you.

1. Joiner, Whitney. "ego trip." Teen Vogue. April 2010: 54 - 55.

New Name

Hey Girls,
The ministry that I am a part of Radical Revolution is looking to make a new name change. We are looking for something that is fresh and speaks to what our mission is. Can you let me know what you think? You can email me at Lynn@proverbs31.org. Can't wait to hear from you!

Name: She Reaches



Theme Verse: “… Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” – Philippians 3:14 (NLT)


Tagline (& Mission Statement): Encouraging teen girls to reach their highest potential in Christ



About Us: She Reaches is a division of Proverbs 31 Ministries dedicated to reaching middle and high school girls. Our purpose is to be there with you in the ups and downs of life, encourage you find value in the heart of God, and challenge you to reach your highest potential in Christ.

What's The Wise Thing?

If you are joining me here today through my devotion, Here is the Path, welcome! If you haven't had a chance to read it, please do!

Life is full of choices. What classes should I take next year? Where should I go to college? Should I use my money to go on that missions trip with my youth group or get that car that I really need? As I mentioned in my devo, some answers the Bible makes very clear. But what about those that are not?

In Andy Stanley's book, The Principle of the Path, Andy gives some great advice. He says that when we hit up against those decisions in life that we can't find answers for clearly in the Bible, we should ask ourselves this very simple question, "What is the wise thing?". You see, every choice we make is a step and each step evenutually leads down a path to a destination. Is that destination where you want to end up?

Let's say you are trying to decide if you should play lacrosse this spring or try out for the Chamber choir at your school? You know that with the classes you are taking and the demands that each would put on you schedule that it wouldn't be wise to try to do both. So how do you know what to do? Ask yourself the question: What would be the wise decision? Is it wise for you to have a physical outlet to help you to keep your sanity or are you hoping one day to be able to use your music in your future and this group would be a great place to grow? They both sound great. What is the wise thing to do?

When we ask God for His clear direction plus ask this simple question, often a peace will rise up in our hearts that makes the right choice a bit more obvious. Just remember to ask Your Father; He always knows best!

One Girl

If you are joining me here today from my devo running at RadRevolution, thanks for coming!

"Will the real me stand up?" Do you ever feel like you could ask yourself that question? Do you ever wonder "Who am I?".

It doesn't really matter what your age, once we are old enough to figure out that if we change this thing or that we will be liked more, it is hard NOT to do that! The truth is, there is only One that we should be doing that for, it is Jesus Himself. He is the One we need to be living to please each and every day.

One way that we can help ourselves to be one person is by being in God's Word everyday. Just like you need food and water, we need His word if we are going to please Him by becoming more like Him.

Could you use some help getting in the Word each day? I'm giving away a Mom and Me prize pack - For a teen girl- the 3 book series B.A.B.E. series by Andrea Stephens (Beautiful, Accepted, Blessed, Eternally Significant) for the teen and for Mom a $10 gift card to Starbucks along with Lynn's CD "Building a Bridge to Your Child's Heart". Just leave me a comment below on what would most help you in your life to be "one" girl; the same girl at home, school, church and work. You're comment could help another teen. Just click on comments below!

At RadRev, we are in the process of looking to give our ministry a new look and we would love your input. What do you think of the new name "She Stands"? We believe that each day you are making choices about standing up for Jesus and our desire is to be your friend along that journey. What do you think? Please let us know in the comments below as well :)

Happy Tuesday,
Lynn

The New Virginity

"The New Virginity" is what VH1 called the abstinence stance in their show with the same name this month. It is the sexual revolution in reversal. Celebrities such as the Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, Miley Cyrus, Demi LaVado and Selena Gomez are all endorsing not following the crowd and saving sex for marriage. They proudly wear purity rings on their wedding finger as a visual reminder of the decision they have made.

Marketing promoters have discovered that there is plenty of money to be made in this virginity marketplace and every one wants a piece of it; from thongs made for you with wording such as "Want some? You can't have it" to scanty cami's with similar wording. Stores that typically go for an adult market have found a whole new gold mine in your culture. There is even an Ipod app with a virginity pledge!

So, is this new awareness a positive thing for your culture? I say "yes" and "no". Yes, there is much talk about saving yourself for your future spouse, but are teens and celebrities really doing that?

Many celebrities as they grow up discard their clean images and a sex-filled image fills it place as noted by celebrities such as Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. These double messages are very confusing as we try to figure out this thing called love. Why wasn't waiting the way to go any more?

And what about all of those abstinence pledges. Unfortunately for many, pledges don’t work. A recent study has shown that in the majority of the cases, teen virginity pledges are broken, especially when made in large groups such as conferences and when the pressure really pours on in the college years. The reason: they are not made from your heart. It is something placed on you by your youth pastor, parents or even Christian friends.

What works is a close relationship with Jesus. True love is a person; his name is Jesus. Whether you are sexually active or not, every one looks for true love. That true love is Jesus Christ. He is enough to fill what all of us are looking for!

Do you have the desire to spend the rest of your life before marriage (if you get married :) pure? If so, how can you do it? There is a lot of pressure out there and it really does seem like every one is doing it.

You need real reasons to say "no". When hormones are flying, the party meter is running and accountability is low because you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, the your mind doesn't think of things such as pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and the future. What can motivate wise decisions is a Person; the One who loves you unconditionally, perfectly and is NEVER FAILING. There is no one on the earth that can promise that...not even Edward Cullen.

What can you do? Get some time with your parent, your pastor or small group leader and ask real life questions and get answers that are not peer-driven. Continue the process of making the right decisions with loving and caring adults helping to lead the way with love your motivation.

Got some questions? Post a comment by clicking on comments below or shoot me an email at lynn@proverbs31.org. You can also find me on facebook at Lynn Martin Cowell. I'd love to hear what you have to say!

What is God Like Anyway?

I am SO excited about the teen conference I get to speak at on February 13th at The Gate in Kinston, North Carolina. To start off the conference, I want to answer some of the questions that the girls asked last year, but we didn't get to. A big one was "What is God like?".

This morning as I was preparing for the conference, I literally found myself giggling at just how cool God is! How amazing is His love, acceptance and forgiveness.

God is...

The Perfect Father

Isaiah 64:8 "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay. You are the potter; we are all the work of your hands." NIV

For some of us, the word "father" conjurs up thoughts that are less than perfect (we all have fathers that were human), but we need to start by getting past any of these negative images of what a father is. God, our father, is perfect.

As this perfect father, He is love. I didn't say that He is loving, which is an action. I said "He is love". It is who He is; it is His character. Since it is who He is, He cannot do anything that is contary to love.

As this perfect father, He is tender toward us. Zephaniah 3:17 describes Him well, "The Lord your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV)

These are loving words; words of intimacy. He takes great delight in you. Delight means to take great joy or extreme pleasure. The God of the universe receives extreme pleasure in you; his creation.

He will quiet you with his love. This phrase brings up images of my husband, Greg, holding one of our babies when they were wailing. He was quieting them with his love; reassuring them that he was near and was caring for them.

He will rejoice over you with singing. My husband has sang songs to my kids from the day they were born; mostly songs that make them laugh. I can just picture the Father doing the same; rejoicing over us!

He knows you, gets you and still loves you! Sometimes you might not feel like that is true with your parents. They may have no idea about the thing you are doing in your life or the things you are thinking about doing, but your heavenly Father does and still loves you! Psalm 139 says He knows you inside and out...and still loves you! Aren't you SO glad? I sure am!!!

I am so glad; so grateful to have a perfect Father! Lord...Thank you!

Bring it On!

"I can't wait for the new semester!" Ever feel like you just have to have a change? Gotten in a rut that you just can't seem to get out of? That is what I love about the New Year. It gives me a sense that it is time for change; time for new.

What "new" are you wanting? New friends? New classes? Sometimes, we wish we could have a new family!

One new we can all have is a new heart. Last year you may have done things you wish you had never done. Seen things you wish you had never seen. Said "yes" to things that took you to places you wish you had never been. Your mind might be screaming ugly things at you, "See, that is who you really are. You've really messed up now!" But you know what? Your mind and the enemy of your heart, Satan, is not telling you the truth.

Jesus says it is NEVER too late! He says that He will always forgive; always take us back and make us new. Friend, it is never too late to get a fresh start. Don't give up. Don't look at the way things are and say, "I can't get out. I'm stuck. I can't change." Maybe you can't; but He can! He is a miracle working God; always has been and always will be. RUN to Him! With all you have, run to Him and just see what miracles He will do when you take your life and give it to Him.

Do you need help getting on the right path? Just leave a comment below or email me at Lynn@proverbs31.org. I'd love nothing more than to help you get off the path you are on and onto the one that leads where you really want to go!