Lynn Cowell spoke life into me. She was my first speaking coach at the Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference. I was intimidated, I was afraid; she was beautiful, she was bold. And I left her presence more beautiful, more bold, less intimated, less afraid. These many years later, I’m delighted to invite Lynn to my blog (as I was on hers!) and follow in her footsteps as a Speaker Coach. You’ll appreciate Lynn’s brand of weirdness – and a wonderful giveaway!
“I don’t think so. That would be a bit weird for me.”
Such was my response to my neighbor’s request.
Her request, you ask? Let me back up a bit.
I love football. I especially loved to watch my oldest play when colored flags fluttered around his waist while carrying the leather bundle. On this particular autumn day, I listened in as the other football moms threw around their parenting worries. I really didn’t have anything to add; they were discussing how scared they were as their daughters had just started high school. My girls were still singing solos into hairbrush microphones. High school was a long way often…thankfully. Under my breath, I commented to myself, “I wouldn’t go back for anything. Being a Christian in high school was hard enough the first time.”
That’s when my neighbor asked the question. “Would you please spend some time with my daughter and share with her how to be a Christian in high school?”
What? Me? My daughters are 6 and 3. What do I know about high school now? Besides, I barely know your daughter!
That would be way too weird.
And that is exactly what I told my friend. Well, not all of it, but I did say the “no” part. Enough said. No more discussion; at least not with her.
Over the next few days, the Lord seemed to have a lot to say to me about investing in this girl. He softened my heart and with trepidation, I obediently took my first step. I invited over five neighbor girls and my nieces for pizza. So I wouldn’t completely freak them out, I let them know ahead of time that I wanted to share with them my story of high school. Can you believe they still came?
To be honest, the night turned out to be disastrous! Every girl seemed to ge
t a call from home with all kinds of problems during our short time together. There were keys locked in cars, a pet cock-a-too that flew away and a shooting in my niece’s neighborhood. I was beyond frustrated and more than a bit mad at God. I did what I felt He asked me to do. Couldn’t He have helped me out a bit?
I couldn’t wait for the night to get over! As the girls began to leave, one hung back, and the middle of trashing plates and cans, she casually asked me a question. “Miss Lynn, can we hang out together? Like, would you mentor me?” That yes led to 18 years of mentoring teen girls, many of them living right in my neighborhood. I would have never know saying “yes” to loving my teen girl neighbor would lead to my ministry of writing and speaking to teens and their moms that I am so passionate about today.
Do you have a teen or two in your neighborhood? You’d be surprised just how many girls would love to have another woman give her a little time, a listening ear and a lot of love. Your neighbor could really use a friend who has come out of high school…and survived.
The Summer You Say Yes
Make this the summer you say “yes” to God and love on your teen girl neighbor – and Lynn can help! (UPDATE: CONTEST HAS ENDED) You can win a copy of Lynn’s newest book, Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants, which empowers young women to:
- Move beyond negative thoughts, capricious emotions, and others’ opinions as she gains unshakeable confidence.
- Limit the draining affect of “girl drama” so she can invest her time in becoming the best she can be.
- Replace the agonizing frustration of wanting to be noticed and liked with a deep assurance that she already is.
Packed with revealing quizzes, interviews with guys, and practical tools, Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants helps young women live out nine amazing characteristics—known as the fruit of the Spirit. She will not only cultivate an inner and outer beauty, but she will also hold an irresistible appeal for godly guys. Help her shift your focus from a guy to the Guy and become the magnetic young woman God created her to be.
You’ll also win a Summer Study Kit that contains all these goodies:
- “Gorgeous is More Than a Face in the Mirror” magnets
- The Magnetic Manifestio frameable cards
- Fruit of the Spirit journal pages
- 40 Ice Breaker Questions
To be entered to win, comment below and tell us about a young woman you would like to share Magnetic with. A random winner will be selected on June 29. And if you just can’t wait until then, visit Lynn’s website to get a Summer Study Kit and copy of Magnetic for yourself!
Lynn Cowell is a Proverbs 31 speaker and the author of several books including her newest “Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants”. Lynn helps set girls and women on the path toward wise choices by leading them to the only love that can fill the love gap in their hearts. Her husband and their three children live in North Carolina where they love hiking, rafting and anything combining chocolate and peanut butter.
Teen daughter dealing with many struggles of being a teen.
Stay close to her, Tricia! A girl needs her mom, lovingly up in her business during these years when she is pulling away. Love unconditionally and pray constantly!
i have the perfect girl! She loves down the road from is and is good friends with my teenage daughter.
Beautiful, Christy! Take every opportunity you can to love on her! These young ladies need us in their lives to navigate this crazy time called the teen years!
My daughter and two of her friends that lost their Mother to cancer.
Oh Shawna! Be brave and love on those girls who need a woman in their lives so very much right now!
Congratulations, Shawna – you have won the Magnetic prize package! I sent you an email requesting your shipping address, or you can send it to me through the contact form on this blog at http://www.amylively.com/contact. May this message bring hope and healing to your daughter and her friends! Thank you, Lynn, for your generous gift.
My grand daughter who is just entering high school and who I’d like to get more acquainted with the Bible and applying it in her life, sad to say she use to love to read it when younger and since those tween years have taken over her with many interests, sports, music etc, the need to read the Bible has faded away, saddens me, the book may encourage her
Alberta, while books about the Bible can’t replace the Bible, they can definitely help to peak interest, especially when based on a subject girls are into. That is why I wrote Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants. Girls want to know what guys are looking for. I cover that in the book with interviews with guys, but more importantly, I dive into what God wants for them!
Thank you for your reply and I see that you are right on with your advice and I am sure this book will help Cami to cope and grow to maturity with the aid of this book, perhaps it will slowly lure her into the Bible itself, appreciate your feedback
There are two teenage girls in my neighborhood and I have a daughter about to enter these years. I would love to do a study like this with these precious girls!
Karen, now would be a perfect time to do a study with these girls. It helps them grow closer to God and grow friends who want to pursue God as well!
I would love to win this for my nieces, they do not have good influences and this book could really help them.
Laura, thank you so much for caring about your nieces. We all need someone to love on us and care about our hearts!
For my daughter she is going through a lot of struggles at this time in her life and any inspirations or motivations i think would be good for her.
My daughter is not quite a teen yet, but is going into middle school next year. She is coming up on the teen years very fast and I would love this book. Thanks.
I’d love to share this with my daughter and her two best friends, one of whom will be returning to public school this fall and is a bit wary of it. I think this would be great for all three of them, and will help them stay cohesive as they part ways for school days.
I would love to share Magnetic with my best friend Rhiannon who leads a “large size” small group full of teens girls at our church. They would love this!!!!!