The Influence of a Thought

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

I’m a “thinker,” by nature. I think and analyze constantly. I’ve always been this way. And over the years I’ve learned that this trait can serve as one of my best assets or it can work against me proving to be one of my greatest weaknesses, which is why Jesus spoke Philippians 4:8 over me very early in my walk with Him.

Honestly, when Jesus found me, I was a mess. My thought patterns were extremely toxic, and because of this, I learned quickly the power our thought life has upon us.

The Influence of a Thought

Follow me for a moment.

First, you have a thought.

That thought impacts what you feel in that moment.

Your momentary feelings determine your overall emotional state.

Both your feelings and emotional state impact the lens in which you view your situation and your world.

And, ultimately, impact your behavior and your decisions.

Our thoughts impact what we believe about God, what we believe about ourselves, what we believe about others, how we think others view us, and so much more.

Thoughts impact our emotions, our decisions, our actions, our relationships, and our worldview. [Tweet that]

Thoughts are powerful, indeed!

Consequently, we need to ensure that our thoughts reflect truth, and that we’re not carried off by Satan’s deceitful schemes or by the world’s fallacies or by our own folly. We need to recognize our thoughts and weight them against God’s Word, against His truth with intentionality, not passively accepting every thought we have as truth.

So, what did Paul tell us to think about?

He told us to think about anything that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. In other words, think about good things.

It is true. There are so many things that are wrong with this world as a consequence of sin. And while we can see these things for what they are, we are not to think or meditate on them for long. But instead, we need to meditate on all things good.

And there is much good to be found!

The Key to Contentment

I believe this is the key to unlocking the secret of contentment and a spirit of thankfulness in our lives. Paul continues to write in Philippians 4:11-13, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

This is it my friend. This is how we are intended to live. We need to be placing the truths of the Gospel at the center of our hearts. No matter how bad things get in your life, there is always good to be found. There is always something to be thankful for. And rest assured, there is always redemption coming down the line. [Tweet that]

Let’s be intentional with our thoughts. [Tweet that] Let’s grab ahold of what’s good, cast aside what’s bad, and learn, as Paul did, the secret of how to be content in this beautiful, fallen world of ours.

After all, the beauty of God’s world only intensifies when we can see brokenness redeemed.

… take every thought captive to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5

{Your thoughts matter. Intentionally choose good thoughts.}

Now, take a moment. Recognize all that’s good in your life and all the good you can find in others. See the beauty of God’s creation and thank Him for opening your eyes to His goodness and love. If you have a moment, share your thoughts in the comments.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

Love Comes First

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

I received a letter from Anthony (the man who murdered my dad) a couple weeks ago. In it, he said, “I also know you feel as I do, if only one person read [our testimony] and came to Jesus because of it, because of our pain, tears, repentance, and forgiveness, all of it was worth it.”

Anthony is right. And He got me thinking.

If our story saves one––only one––I do believe my efforts to share what God has done is all worth it. Yet, I also believe Jesus called me to share this story with many. In fact, I believe I’m called to write a book about it.

What It Takes to Publish Today

When writing a book, you hear a lot about the need to build a “platform” or establish a “tribe” of followers who engage with you both on your blog and on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest…) who will then become your audience for your proposed book. Even though all this “platform building” feel like self-promotion––which makes me ridiculously uncomfortable––I’ve been doing it, nonetheless, attempting to promote Jesus instead of myself.

Building a platform is a necessary step toward publishing.

But it can so quickly become about the numbers. How many people are reached with each post? How many visitors to my blog each day, week, month? How many Twitter followers? How many Facebook likes? And the list goes on.

But what gets lost amid the numbers is love. Each of those numbers represents a soul. A soul Jesus loves and wants to help. We are all called to love one another. We’re all called to minister to one another. It may look different for some people than for others, but the call is all the same. Love.

My Followers?

And here’s the thing: My “followers” are not my followers, they’re Jesus’ followers. [Tweet that] A sweet friend pointed that out to me the other night, and I appreciated the perspective.

This issue is not a new one, either. It was found long before the emergence of social media and platform building. The Corinthian church faced the same problem. In 1 Corinthians 1:12-14 and 1:17 Paul says,

What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? …For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

It is Jesus who needs to be center. We don’t need Laurie followers, we need Jesus followers!

All You Need is Love (Love Before Mission)

My calling––and your calling too––needs to come from a place of love, for without love there is no real impact. [Tweet that] Sure, some may be intrigued by our stories, but the impact will be little without love.

And I confess that I have lost the love I had at first. But I’m praying for grace. I need a complete paradigm shift to take place through the mercy and grace of God.

It’s not about numbers. It’s not about me. It’s not even about my story.

It’s about Jesus.

It’s about loving God and loving people. Sound familiar? It’s the Great Commandment Jesus spoke of in both Matthew and Mark.

The Great Commandment comes before anything else. Yet, it is followed by the Great Commission.

The Great Commission is our mission in this world. Jesus tells us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

We do have a mission––to share the message of the Gospel with the world. But the mission doesn’t come before the commandment to love. [Tweet that]

The cart doesn’t come before the horse!

Love is first. Always. [Tweet that]

Yet, we have a job to do. And for some of us that job may require the use of social media, but it is all to be motivated by love. Just as the title of Bob Goff’s book says, “Love Does.” (This is a great book, by the way, one of my favorites!)

I’ve somehow gotten things a little backwards lately. And for that I am sorry, I repent, and I pray that all I do is derived out of my love for Jesus and for His people. If you could join me in this prayer, I’d greatly appreciate it. The prayer of many is powerful, and I want to get this one right.

Back to what Anthony said. If I can impact only one through my love, it will all be worth it.

{Love comes first.}

Question: Have you experienced this? Any words of wisdom you would like to share? Share in the comments.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} Why We Need to Stop Comparing Ourselves to Each Other

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

Jesus said to him, “…what is that to you? You follow me!” – John 21:22

We cannot accurately judge our sins or behaviors by comparing ourselves to others. [Tweet that] And when we do so, our assessment of ourselves, our sins, and the consequence of those sins will, most assuredly, be skewed.

I addressed this issue with Anthony as we were working toward forgiveness. I wrote,

…one more thought that I have has to do with comparing ourselves to others. I think this is dangerous, yet I believe we all do it to a certain extent….

…we, as Christians, are not to judge ourselves based upon those around us. Many of us look around and consciously or unconsciously compare ourselves to others in the world. We look around and see that there are people out there who have done x or committed y, then we look to ourselves and say, “well, I haven’t done that, so I’m a pretty good person.”

Yet, the Bible teaches us that none are good. That we have all turned away from God, and were, at one time, enemies of God–our creator. We are reminded to be in the world, but not of the world. That we are different, and that we not think more highly of ourselves or our actions than we ought.

When comparing your sentence in relationship to your crime to that of those around you, what you’re essentially saying is that God isn’t in control of your situation; that He didn’t oversee your sentence. That because you had a “reason” [for murdering my dad] it’s somehow better than not having a reason. That you deserve less time because my dad got you really mad?!? As if that’s justification.

While Anthony disagreed with my assessment regarding God ordaining his sentence, he did write back and say, “You were right though in saying we Christians are held to a higher standard and I am wrong to compare my sentence to others.”

The standard we are to meet is God’s standard, not one that is arbitrarily orchestrated in our favor. [Tweet that] And God’s standard requires perfection, which is obviously unattainable and is the reason we need Jesus to save us.

Comparison

Comparison is folly. Pure and simple. [Tweet that]

Comparison says I sin, but at least I don’t sin like you. (Or I am the worst sinner there is, far greater than you.)

Comparison says I deserve more than you. (Or I am a worm who deserves nothing compared to you.)

Comparison says I am better than you. (Or you are better than me.)

Yet, the fact of the matter is that no one is better than any another. As said before, we all equally stand in need of grace and mercy. [Tweet that]

{We cannot accurately judge our sins or behaviors by comparing ourselves to others.}

Question: Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others? Share in the comments.

To leave a comment, click on the link above. This will take you to the post where you can leave your comment at the bottom.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} We Are No Better Than Repentant Murderers

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23

You are no better than him, I felt the Lord say to me.

I was taken by surprise. Stunned, really.

I had just gotten another letter from Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. I was angry and was contemplating what Anthony wrote, while crying out to God, How could he? How could he think that? Why doesn’t he see the truth? Who does he think he is?

Then came the rebuke, You are no better than him.

I fell silent and was put in my place, instantly. All my judgement, all my condemnation came to an immediate and abrupt stop, and I knew––I am no better than the man who murdered my own dad. [Tweet that]

It was a difficult truth to swallow. Truths like these don’t usually sit well.

Perhaps it’s because we’re listening to the world, with all its corrupt conceptions of how things should work instead of turning to the Word of God, which tells us that we are all equally sinners in desperate need of grace and mercy. The difference is: some know it and others don’t. [Tweet that]

God Shows No Partiality

Truly, God shows no partiality between repentant sinners. Take a look at some of the most influential patriarchs of our faith:

Moses ran away from his privileged life in Egypt after killing one of Pharaoh’s men prior to being called and empowered to lead Israel out of Egyptian slavery.
David committed adultery with Bathsheba, impregnated her, then had her husband placed on the front line of battle to ensure he would be killed, yet God still calls Davis a man after His own heart and used him mightily.
Paul sought after and personally oversaw the murder of several early Christians prior to being saved, transformed, and called to spread the Gospel to much of the world.

Talking a close look at the record of these men and others who were used mightily for the Kingdom of God brings the truths of 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 to light. It says:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

It is quite likely that if you are saved, you were once foolish, weak, lowly, or despised. We all come before Christ as beggars, poor in spirit, and in desperate need of redemption. [Tweet that] We are all equally guilty of sin before a Holy God.

Yet, the moment we come to Christ by faith, we are all washed clean. There is no distinction. My cleanliness is no better than Anthony’s. Once again, this is the beauty and scandal behind the forgiveness of God.

{We are no better than repentant murderers.}

Which of God’s truths do you have difficulty swallowing?

Share in the comments.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} Wait for the Lord

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:9

wait for the lord, lord, wait, waiting, blessing, bless, blessed, trusting God, God, Jesus, Christ, Christian, peace, will, will of God, free will, Lessons Learned, lessons, doing things God's way, God's way, patience, path of life, how to life, how to live a good life, how to find peace, find peace, finding peace, waiting hard, how to wait, trusting god, our way, god's way, following jesus, faith, discernment, scripture, scripture waiting for the Lord, Isaiah 55:9, scripture interpretation, bible interpretation, bible, scripture, psalms, Isaiah,

One thing’s for certain: we need to wait for the Lord. As mentioned in my last post, I was terrified to take even one step unless I was certain of God’s direction during my journey toward forgiveness. I knew––with complete certainty––that I would mess it all up, apart from Jesus’ counsel.

Here’s what the Bible has to say about waiting for God:

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:14

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. – Psalm 33:20

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him… – Psalm 37:7a

Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. – Psalm 37:34

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. – Proverbs 20:22

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. – Isaiah 30:18

…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. – Lamentations 3:25

…keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. – Jude 1:21

And this is just a sampling.

If God went to all the trouble of stating something over and over and over again, it must be something to take notice of.

Wait for the Lord.

So, what does this look like, practically?

Waiting for the Lord means we say no to impulse.

Waiting for the Lord means we take the time to pray––to seek God––and then wait for His response.

Waiting for the Lord means we set aside our own agenda to submit to God’s.

Waiting for the Lord means we humble ourselves, knowing full well that we do not have the answers.

Waiting for the Lord means we understand our proper place. That we are mere humans, with finite minds.

But ultimately, waiting for the Lord means we wait.

And waiting is hard. It requires patience.

No one likes to wait. Plain and simple. But as we can see from the scriptures quoted above, there are benefits to doing things Gods way. Those who wait for the Lord will be blessed.

We need to be praying and seeking God’s will in all things. We need to be eager to follow when He calls, joyfully aware that He’s leading us toward our promise land. Yet, fully cognizant of the fact that there will be trials along the way, but that these trials will be used for our good to the glory of God.

So, here’s to living life in a new way, waiting for the Lord to show us the path He has hewn out for us, leading us toward the promise land.

{Wait for the Lord, and you will see a bounty of blessings.}

Has there been a time in your life when you had to wait for the Lord?

Leave a comment.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} Rely Upon Jesus

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of themand said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven….” – Matthew 18:2-3

Lord, I can’t do this without you, I prayed. Help me. Give me wisdom. Show me the way, and I will follow.

I can’t tell you how often I uttered these words throughout my correspondence with Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. I was under no illusion I could take even one step without clear direction from Jesus during this difficult journey. I was terrified to be outside of His will, for I knew things could go very wrong in a situation like this apart from God.

Each time I received a letter, my emotions ran high. I wanted to react quickly, with little grace. I wanted to rebuke Anthony. Set him straight. I wanted him to see as I saw. (It turns out, however, I wasn’t always right. We both had a lot to learn.) But I had a strong conviction that I wasn’t to trust my thoughts and I wasn’t to respond to my emotions, but instead, I was to wait.

I needed to respond not react to Anthony’s letters, but I needed to wait for my emotions to settle before I was able to do so. As I waited, I put Anthony’s latest letter on my nightstand as a reminder to pray, to seek the Lord in how He wanted me to respond. I needed clarity. And clarity only came with time.

Here’s the truth: If we are to remain in the will of God, we must be in complete reliance upon Jesus. [Tweet that]

When presented with a trial, it seems easier to depend on God. The difficulty comes when applying this truth to everyday life. When life settles down, we seem to think we’ve got it covered, when in all actuality, we don’t. We deceive ourselves when we think we don’t need Jesus’ direction with every detail of our lives. [Tweet that]

How would our lives be different, what impact would our lives have, how much joy would we experience if we were to simply seek the will of God (and not move until we hear Him speak) in all we do and all we say? This, I believe, is paramount to living life victoriously. Jesus has a call on each of our lives. He wants to use us. But we must rely on Him and surrender completely to His will in order to get there.

Just imagine what He could do with our lives if we die to ourselves and live for Him!

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11

{If we are to remain in the will of God, we must be in complete reliance upon Jesus.}

Do you live in complete reliance upon Jesus? If so, what impact has this had on your life? If not, how might your life change if you began to do so?

Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} Get Over That Hurdle

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. – 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

The door shut. I was presented with a significant hurdle.

Lord, I thought You wanted me to bring Anthony a Bible, I prayed. How can I bring him a Bible if I can’t visit him?

I held the letter from the warden I received that afternoon. He denied my application to visit Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. Still, I knew what I knew.

I knew Jesus called me to forgive Anthony.

I knew Jesus called me to love Anthony, my enemy.

I knew Jesus called me to have contact with Anthony.

Of these things, I was sure.

What I didn’t know was how it would play out, now that I couldn’t go see him.

Every journey Jesus calls us on is coupled with resistance and difficulty. Roadblocks and hurdles are sure to come. At first glance, it seems these obstructions indicate we’re on the wrong path. But, rest assured. Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not God’s will.

In fact, the greatest endeavors we’re called to will most likely be the most difficult things we do. [Tweet that]

What I didn’t know when I received the denial letter from the warden is that the path Jesus forged for me to take would look far different than the one I imagined it to be. But it was this path that led both Anthony and I to a place of deep healing and forgiveness which was not possible any other way, and I am unbelievable thankful Jesus allowed that hurdle to be placed in my way.

Oftentimes, God places circumstances to steer us onto the path He has for us. But don’t allow these difficulties to derail you. With prayerful consideration, you must choose to press forth and get over that hurdle.

Blessings await you on the other side.

{Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not God’s will.}

What hurdles have you had to overcome along the way?

Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

To read more about the warden’s denial read When Doors Shut.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} When It Just Doesn’t Make Sense

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:9

“It just doesn’t make sense,” I said. “I know what God’s calling me to do. I know I need to bring Anthony a bible. But he probably already has one; He claimed to be a Christian at the time of the murder. What good will this do?”

I began to pray for clarity; I prayed for grace to follow despite the fact that none of what I was being called to made sense. Ultimately, it was given.

I sent an email to a friend at the time and wrote:

Frankly, I have no idea to what purpose God would send me there to see [Anthony]…All that I know is that God seems to be leading me in this way, and I feel like I need to follow Him. Crazy? Yes! But sometimes God calls us to do certain things that don’t seem to add up at the time.

Though I had a lot of support from those around me, many didn’t understand what I was doing. Many advised me against it. Still, I knew Jesus was calling me down this path, and I was determined to follow.

Much of what “the world” tells us is turned on its head when Jesus gets involved. [Tweet that.]

Oftentimes, what He calls us to doesn’t make sense.

I sought peace. Jesus called me to interact with the man who murdered my dad.

I sought healing. Jesus called me to go to the darkest recesses of my soul and relive the most difficult time in my life.

It all seems so counterintuitive. But as Isaiah 55:9 states, God’s ways are not our ways. So, when you hear Jesus call, don’t rely upon your own logic. But instead, once assured it’s Jesus leading, simply follow.

{Sometimes the things God calls us to won’t make sense, but we must still follow.}

What has Jesus called you to do that didn’t make sense at first?

Join the discussion! Leave a comment.

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Lessons Learned} In Order to Follow Jesus, We Must Know Jesus.

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

Do you trust someone you don’t know? Would you listen to the advice of someone you just met and follow them into a risky situation?

I think most people would have enough discernment to get to know someone prior to trusting them. And this translates well into our relationship with God. If you don’t know Jesus, why would you trust Him with your life?

Yes, it is true. In order to follow Jesus, we must know Jesus. [Tweet that]

Here’s how this played out in my story:

When I was called to forgive Anthony, I knew God is loving, and that He was simply asking me to give what He graciously gave me.

When I was called to love my enemy, I knew God is good, and that He would only ask me to do something that would lead me to a better place.

When I feared interaction with a man capable of murder, I knew God is my Protector, and I knew He loved me and there was no reason to fear.

When the warden turned down my visitation application, and I struggled with whether or not I was on the right path, I knew Jesus is my Shepherd, and He would show me the way.

When the correspondence between Anthony and I became “heated” as we hashed through the particulars of the murder, I knew God had purpose in even the most difficult times.

When I felt I couldn’t go on, when the emotions of digging up the darkest parts of my past threatened to pull me under, I knew God is my Healer, and He would bring me through.

When those in my life witnessed the intense trials along the way and began to express their doubts about whether I should continue, I knew God called me to correspond with Anthony, and He would redeem my dad’s murder through this trial.

When I got each letter and awaited direction from the Lord on how to proceed, I knew God usually doesn’t perform on my timetable. But, I knew He always answers those who cry out to Him, in His perfect timing.

When I forgave Anthony, I knew God gave me grace to forgive and there was nothing inside of me capable of that forgiveness apart from Him.

When I witnessed a complete transformation in Anthony as God brought him to repentance, I knew God is powerful, and He changes hearts of stone into ones that exude His light and beauty.

When I saw God use this testimony to transform others, including many prisoners, I knew God has a heart for the lost and chooses the least of these (myself included) to adopt into His family.

There’s so much more.

But here’s the thing: had I not known God’s character to begin with, I would not have followed, and I would have no testimony to share.

Knowing God

I don’t know how to say this without sounding harsh, but here’s the truth: many Christians claim to know and love Jesus but don’t.

Many of us claim to be in relationship with God, but spend little or no time in His presence. Many of us claim to know God, but actually possess very little knowledge about who God is––we don’t know His character as revealed in His Word.

But it’s not enough to simply know about God. We must know God. It’s important to ask ourselves: Do I really know God or do I just know about Him? This distinction may seem like a small nuance to some, but the difference is paramount.

So, how do we come to know God?

The answer is not in religion. [Tweet that] It’s not to be found in what we do or how good we are, but I do believe it begins prayer. A simple prayer asking Him for the grace to know Him and to want to spend time with Him. A marriage doesn’t thrive when the couple spends most of their time apart. They must make time together a priority if their marriage is going to thrive. It’s the same with your relationship with God.

Make time for Him. Spend time in prayer, write in a prayer journal, read your Bible, take a walk by yourself and seek God, or simply sit before Him in silence. Whatever it takes to come to Jesus, do it!

Make Jesus a priority and just watch what He begins to do in your life. [Tweet that]

As you come to him [Jesus], a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 2:4-5

{In order to follow Jesus, we must know Jesus.}

How has knowing God allowed you to step out in faith?

Share in the comments.

NOTE: I tried, really, I did. I tried to make it short, but this was surely anything but short! Here’s to keeping that goal in the future!!

To read more about my journey toward forgiveness, read Freedom Through Grace or {Redemption} Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life.

{Discerning God’s Will} When Doors Shut.

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Laurie Coombs

I was reluctant to correspond with Anthony prior to my planned visit, but I found it was necessary in order to work out the details of the visit. We exchanged several letters as we awaited approval from the prison, each letter unearthing feelings I unknowingly buried years before.

One day, I received a letter from the warden of the prison. As I opened it, I was sure it would be the approval I had been waiting for. Much to my surprise, however, I read the following:

Dear Ms. Coombs:

Your visiting application was forwarded to this office for consideration. Due to safety and security conserns for the institution because you are the victim’s daughter, we are not approving visiting privileges for you.

Sincerely,

{Name Omitted}, Warden

I was confused. My application for visitation was denied. Did I hear God wrong? God called me to bring Anthony a bible. I was certain of this. But how would I be able to give him a bible without seeing him?

The following morning, I contacted the warden’s office and explained my motive behind the visit. ”I assure you,” I said, “I have no desire to go there in a spirit of vengeance or anger. I simply want to bring him a bible and tell him that I forgive him.”

I was met with a stark, “No.” It was apparent that the warden had no desire to even entertain the idea of approving my visit. Still, I knew what I knew. I knew it was God’s will for me to have contact, so I continued to seek avenues that could potentially overturn the warden’s decision.

Through all of this, Anthony and I were writing and were discussing possible avenues to explore. I spoke with patience and kindness to many within the prison system, explaining the situation, telling them that my only desire was to find closure and peace through forgiveness. I spoke with the warden’s supervisor, and then his supervisor’s supervisor. Still, nothing. Every alley I went down was a dead end. Every door that potentially provided hope was immediately shut. I took it to the top, as far as I could, but the decision remained. I would not be allowed in the prison.

At first, I couldn’t understand it, but as I grappled with what this meant, I finally came to understand that this thing was not going to go the way I thought it would. It wouldn’t be my plans that succeeded. It would be God’s. For whatever reason, I was assured of God’s will. I knew I was on the right path––despite the seemingly insurmountable roadblock––so I pressed on, knowing that God’s will would become clear along the way.

Jesus will call us to do many things in this life, none of which will be easy. Looking back, I now see and understand why God shut that door, for if I would have visited Anthony at that point in the journey. I would have never seen the healing and redemption that took place. It all would have been over before it even began. Jesus didn’t want me to have one, short conversation. He wanted me to have many, and this was only possible through the written correspondence that has taken place over the last two and a half years.

As you travel down your own path along side our King, know this: roadblocks do not always indicate that we are on the wrong path. Perhaps, Jesus wants more for you than you can even imagine.

{Roadblocks do not necessarily mean we’re on the wrong path.}