Tuesday, November 9, 2010

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 My devotion was mistakenly linked to this blog which is no longer active.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!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have just started getting your posts into my email box! Love this latest one. Love your love story with God and your love story with Greg. This DVD sounds as though it might be perfect for a friend whose daughter is away at college with no christian girlfriends heading into a slippery slope of sexual sin that could lead to some serious consequences. We are praying God's protection and deep conviction over her choices.

Blessings to you,
Donna

Anonymous said...

I always love hearing "courtship" stories of how people met and ended up together. Fantastic story of God's faithfulnes! I am sure many young ladies can be affected by this beautiful love story.

Hannah said...

I've been in this time with God where He is teaching me to trust him more and more. It's been 4 hard years, but I know the fruits of God's love will be more than anything I could have done on my own. I'm kind of at this "what now?" time. Just waiting patiently for God to tell what's the next step take. Thank you for sharing this devotion and post today. I was blessed :)

Unknown said...

I loved your story. It's all about waiting for God. Your book sounds like something my daughter needs to read. She is 18 and seeking God, but she wants to know all that God has planned for her. She is trying to take one step at a time, though.

Anonymous said...

I so enjoyed reading the story of God's path for you and your husband. Thanks for sharing it. I'd love to be the winner of the CD!!
Jenny

Crystal said...

Loved your story - very busy today. I'm in!

Katie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pam said...

I loved your devotional for today and your story on your blog. Reading them both is perfect timing for me as I'm watching God awaken a dream that I had buried in the closet of my heart. Watching his orchestration of my life has me in awe this day! We truly can trust Him for every step even when we cannot see the way. He is faithful in bringing to pass his purposes in HIS perfect timing!

Katie said...

I'm working on figuring out what trusting Him looks like in my life. I've got lots of big decisions coming soon, and I have to trust Him!
Thank you for sharing this part of your story. :)

natalie said...

What an awesome God Story! Count me in for your drawing! I am a middle school counselor and I am thinking your God Story will be perfect for her.

thanks for sharing and God Bless,
natalie

Anonymous said...

I love this story!! When we trust in God no matter what is going on, but especially when we trust Him over our own reasonings, He comes through really BIG! He will never forsake you, that is what I have learned, and I trust Him over all else.

Olga Wright Griffin said...

I have just come from my yearly mammogram where they had to do an ultrasound because of a "suspicious" area. I'll be going back for a biopsy next week, so I am trusting God in all of this and know that no matter what happens, He is in control and He is good. He is in the process of writing my story and it promises to be a good one, so stay tuned. Check out my blog http://hearthopebyolga.blogspot.com/2010/11/expect-unexpected.html

Lynn Cowell said...

Jesus has so much to say about how He loves us so!

Please check out my whole video:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lynn+Cowell&aq=f

I also have a book just for teen girls coming out in April "His Revolutionary Love; Jesus' Radical Pursuit of You". His love is like no other. Let Him be everything you have always wanted!

Lynn

Angela said...

Love your story! Michael & I were very similar except he was in love with me long before I even knew he even cared. We went all the way from K to 12 grade together. After high school I prayed God would send me the man that I needed. I never knew that he would show up at my door 6 mths later and 2 yrs later we would be married. We will be celebrating our 19th anniversary in Dec. Anytime I question God's plan for me I always go back to the man of my dreams and know that God is in control and he will always provide me and my family with everything that we need!

Anonymous said...

Proverbs 31 e-mail hits my mailbox and it's exaxtly what's going on with my life that day. I have been struggling with "why am I here." I have been out of a job for just about 1 1/2 years now and I feel so alone. I have all the time in the world to do something but I feel so alone, where the world is spinning by. I'm a people person and I get my energy from people, not being alone. My girlfriend Irene, is always telling me to read my bible because the answers are there. I know the answers are there but I keep on doing the same thing over and over again. I guess you could say I'm afraid of the unexpected. Or what God has planned for me. I will make a point of starting to read my bible everyday. I need some direction.

Anonymous said...

I have been going through some very difficult times over the past several years. The more I have learned to trust God, the easier my life has gotten. God's word from Jeremiah has carried me so sorry and posted in my house. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Blessings,
Nicole

Anonymous said...

Somtimes life is totally crazy and the last couple of years have been that for me. I realize now with a little more hindsite that when my world is crumbling, I turn to God is ways that I never would have before. He is tryng to draw me closer to Himself and often He uses "storms" to do that.
Kari

Anonymous said...

I am struggling with my marriage. We've been married 46 years, but I'm at my wits end. My husband is a funtioning alcoholic...he constantly puts me down by telling me what a stupid, no good person I am. I'm not perfect, but I do know I'm a Christian. I've tried turning this over to God, and leaving it in His hands, but how long is it going to take? I can't live like this much longer.
Barbara A

Anonymous said...

My 16 year old daughter is dealing with these similar issues about dating. I'm in.
Suzette

Andrea said...

Great article and blog post! I'm in!

Andrea