11th Day of Christmas Giveaway with Lynn Cowell
Christmas Sale: If you’d like info on getting any of my books (tax-free & with no shipping costs!) for you or as a personalized gift for someone, click here.
_______________________________________________
Welcome to the 11th Day of Christmas Giveaway!!
Each day, December 1-12th, I am featuring a fellow Proverbs 31 sister and an aspect of Christmas. You’ll get to know her and she, in turn, will offer a fabulous giveaway! Simply leave a comment on her post to be entered in the drawing.
And, one soon-to-be-very-giddy gal who comments on all 12 posts will win the GRAND PRIZE! You may comment on all posts until Monday, December 13th at 5:00 pm EST when the winners will be announced. (to see the grand prize and get caught up on the posts click here)
Now, for our P31 sister of the day, the wonderful Lynn Cowell!
From Lynn’s Heart
Teen Mania…that describes my family! My husband, Greg and I have three teens – Zach, 19, Mariah 16 and Madi 13. When everyone is home, it is one hopping place!
The place we love to be together is in the mountains, visiting my son in college. Hiking, tubing, biking; anything as long as it combines our favorite people in our favorite place! I feel most comfortable there; in my hiking boots, well worn jeans and Appalachian State sweatshirt!
Here’s what put’s the whole experience over the top: starting the day before the rest of the house wakes up, sitting on a porch with a cup of tea, my Bible and journal.
I love soaking in the beauty of God’s creation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. His works are His love language to me and these mountains bring tears to my eyes each and every time I am blessed enough to get there. I keep thinking I’ll get used to this extravagent beauty, but I don’t. What radical love!
Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week – I get to volunteer at Proverbs 31! Taking the requests for our devotions brought back from speaking events, I enter them into our system.It blesses me to think just how many women get to hear God’s word through our devotions.
As the “go to” girl for teens on our speaker team, I will be coordinating our RadRevolution site in January. Here girls go to find out how crazy God is about them and parents go to find content for investing in their daughters.
I also have a passion for speaking to teens through my “Revolutionary Love” conference; designed to lead teens and their moms to finding their completion in Christ!
The True Meaning of Christmas
Like me, you are probably constantly on the lookout for speaking the true meaning of Christmas in your family. Several years ago, our family was relaxing after church when my father-in-law read us an article of a robber who stole “Christmas” . The mother and four children, who were pictured in front of their home, wore their sadness.
My husband scooped up our kids and said we were going to replace this family’s Christmas. We hunted to find the perfect gifts for this dejected family. Upon wrapping them just so, we piled into the car to find the home pictured in the paper. With God as our navigator, it didn’t take long until we found a match.
Oh how I wish I could insert a picture here of the joy and surprise on that mother’s face! Giving truly is better than receiving! It is moments like these that demonstrate to our kid’s Christmas’ true meaning. Love for Jesus is more caught than taught; especially when it comes to our teens.
Lynn’s Giveaway
Do you have a teen girl on your Christmas list that you want to “catch” the truth of Jesus’ revolutionary love? My prize pack is created just for her!
You’ll receive:
~Two “Scenario” novels by Nicole Dell
~A set of six pairs of earrings from Claire’s
~ A cute little photo album
~A travel mani-pedi set
~And a copy of my CD for teens entitled “He is That Into You”.
If that teen girl is your girl, I hope you’ll stop by my blog and sign up to receive my posts each Wednesday. “In the Know” discusses current trends in teen culture as well as brings encouragement as we seek to raise godly children.
Jesus, open our eyes to see the opportunities this Christmas season to show your love rather than tell it. Give us courage to be bold; being your hands and feet to a world that desperately needs to find your radical love!
Amen Lynn!!!
Okay sisters, to be entered to win Lynn’s great teen package, leave a comment telling about a time you witnessed the true meaning of Christmas.
Was it something you or your family did? Or was it a gesture shown to you? And yes, if you are busy today shopping or wrapping or baking, you make simply say “I’m in!”. :-)
Better-to-Give-Than-Receive Blessings,
I’m in
When I was teaching preschool before I was married, there was a family whose 3 children had raggedy coats that didn’t zip, no gloves or hats, and the parents had no coats or gloves, either. The dad had just gotten out of jail and was trying to support his family working at a service station, outdoors, with no gloves or mittens. My fiance at the time, husband now, and I, went shopping and bought the whole family full winter gear, a few Christmas decorations, and slippers and had a friend of ours deliver them to their apartment. The kids came in the next day wearing their new coats and carrying their slippers to change into, and couldn’t contain their excitement over those simple things that most of us take for granted.
A few years back, a friend’s family was in serious financial straits and her husband got very sick. It is still amazing to me how we all just came together and were able to bring heaven to earth for this family. From a donated Christmas tree, gifts for the kids,a full Christmas Dinner, and mortgage payments. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.
There is nothing I can think of that I did alone. Every miracle I have witnessed or had a part of always came from with the direction of our Heavenly Father. I pray in 2011 I can do more and witness more.
We’ve adopted a little boy tfor Christmas at my office! It’s great to see everyone wanting to help.
I’m in!
One year our family adopted a family from our children’s school. The kindergarten teacher told us about a family who had two sons that attended the school. They had only one outfit to wear to each day but came to school with neatly cleaned and ironed pants and shirts every day. The family of four were renting and living in someone’s garage. The boys didn’t own a jacket. We bought gifts and groceries and took them over to the family who were so appreciative. It really touched our hearts and made an impact on our kids. We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for.
I am already a fan of your blog Lynn. I have two teen girls (17 & 19). We can never have too much information to pass along to our teens to help them learn more about Jesus. The fact that my children always ask if we can donate to our church “Giving Tree” without my reminding them warms my heart.
I’m in just love the time when I went to a Christmas church concert, the lyrics and majestic sounds of the music was when I realized the really meaning of Christmas as a young 8 year old ;)
A couple of years ago we had a similar experience of “adopting” a family. What a beautiful way to share Christ’s love. It was such a joy to take the packages in and sing a few carols with them as tears streamed down all of our faces!
I am definitely in!! My first daughter who is now 20 I did not do her justice in training her up in Christ. With my other daughters ages 12 and 8 I realize I need to provide a better foundation for their future.
Great story. Busy day. I’m in!
I’m in!
Lynn, thanks for sharing your story!!! Love to read stories like that!!!!
A few years ago now I was volunteering in a school office. One day, just days before Christmas, one of the teachers came in and announced that her church had been collecting specific gifts for requests they had received for those who couldn’t afford gifts that year, but that night their church was vandalized and all the gifts had been stolen. She was distraught as she had been the organizer of these donations and didn’t know how or when she’d have time to replace the items on the list. That day I was only working a half day in the office, so after phoning my husband, I asked her for the complete list. I went out to my car…prayed for God to direct me to stores and good deals so I could be a good steward of the money He had entrusted to our family, and within a 24 hour period I was back at the school with all the gifts replaced. To this day it remains the best Christmas I ever enjoyed. The recipients of the gifts had no idea their gifts were stolen or that one family replaced them all..a family with no connection to that earthly church family, but to the body of Christ and His church.
There’s still time to be used like that this year…I’ll be watching for an opportunity to make Christ visible,
Joy
I’m in!
I’m already a fan of her blog. The closest thing to a teen is my daughter, 12. She’s growing up faster than I like. But she’s such a joy to gave in my life and she brightens every day just by being there and being her. :)
I’m in! =)
I’m in! Thanks, Terri
When my boys were about 5 and 6 yrs old. I gave them each a few dollars before going into a second hand store. On the way to find a parking spot my 6 year old asked about the man ringing the bells by the red pot. I told him that he was collecting money for people who do not have all that they need…to bless them for Christmas. My son said, “mom, would it be okay if I give my money to him instead of spending it?” I wanted to shout to the heavens….OF COURSE IT IS OKAY, IT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA!!!! I encouraged him that God blesses when we are faithful to care for others. Little did I know just how quickly God would bless him. We deposited his money and entered the store and after shopping for some time my 5 year old found what he wanted that cost a mere 40Cents and he saw a stuffed Koala bear that he thought his brother might like….asked him and then bought it for him. He still has that Koala today, 9 years later. Recently he wrote a paper on this experience. Now this, to me, is the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Blessings of His abundant Love to all.
I’m in.
JUMPING UP AND DOWN! STILL JUMPING!
Yay! So excited about this giveaway! Weeeeeee!
I have 2 teen daughters and a son in college. This is the most encouraging post yet!
I too, love ministering to teens and their parents. I’d love to do more.
Listening to my kids talk about what Christmas means. To hear them say that it is the birth of our Savior brings so much joy to this Momma’s heart.
We recently moved out of our hometown and even though our money has been very tight. Our girls bought a bicycle for an angel tree name. It makes you enjoy the holiday. We also go visit an elderly women we met and have really enjoyed her stories. Merry Christmas and thanks
I’m in! Love this idea!
I’m in!
It is wonderful to see my young pre-teen grandkids sharing the true meaning of Christmas! Too soon they will be TEENS! But I know they will be Teens for Jesus!
Merry Christmas!