The Best Birthday Gift Ever

The time that I had been praying for had come! Of course, I didn’t expect it to happen in that way, in my car on a long drive home from the beach. I didn’t care. The opportunity was there!

I had been having a conversation with a precious girl in my Gather and Grow group about her grandmother who had passed away a couple of weeks ago. “I wish I could know for sure that I was going to heaven?”

It was all I could do to not pull over my XB in the middle of that country road. “You can know! The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and will forgive us and exchange our life for His. (1 John 1:9) Would you like to do that?” I think it was all making Madi a bit uncomfortable because she called out “NOW?”. “Yeah, do you want to pray right now, honey?” I wasn’t going to let this chance go by. “Sure.” So together, the three of us prayed and saw a new life born in my little black, box car!

Almost as soon as we were done praying, those type thoughts which can be called nothing but rotten came into my head. “Why didn’t you wait until you could explain it better? That prayer probably didn’t mean anything to her?” Then about ten minutes down the road, a sweet little voice said, “Mrs. Cowell, thank you so much for praying for me.” Exactly what my heart longed to hear.

The next day, this precious twelve year old girl rang my doorbell with a birthday card. “Mrs. Cowell…Thank you for the beach, Bible study, and praying with me. God is so happy and so proud of you! You’re like a second mother to me and I wanna say ‘Happy Birthday.’ I love you. You are going to heaven no matter what! You have made a difference in my life and you have inspired me to spread the Word. May all your wishes come true!” XXOO

The morning of the “special prayer”, I had just been sharing with Greg, in tears, of how I was doubting whether my life is effective. Recent trials have caused me to question my ability to invest in teens. But then God…

Isn’t that just like Him! To encourage me by bringing one of His own to Himself.

If you would like to impact a teen, consider starting a Gather & Grow group. Click here to learn more about how you can make a difference in a life that is just getting started!

Lynn

7 Comments

  1. Praising Him with you!
    Love You and Love Your Heart!
    LeAnn

  2. Anonymous says:

    You are effective and you continue to make a difference in lives around you. I'm a blessing of your influence and I love you. Kim Hawley

  3. Praise the Lord! That's so awesome Lynn!!! 🙂

  4. Don't listen to the father of lies—-

    You do make a difference in the lives of so many people, sweet friend.

    Have a great day basking in His encouragement to you.

  5. Oh, what a precious gift the Lord gave you…at just the right time.

    Lynn, your life is effective. I will never forget how you reached out to me last summer while at She Speaks. Staying with me at the Blogger Reception and then sitting with me during Zoe's session. I was feeling so alone and afraid. What a difference a friend makes.

    Hugs,
    Joy

  6. Janet Rovenstine says:

    How awesome Lynn! Thanks for being obedient to God!

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