{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} When Jesus Calls, Follow

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

We’re called to follow Jesus daily through every little intricacy life has to offer.

But there are times Jesus calls us to follow Him to do something much bigger, something that will alter the course of our lives.

I have two such events in my life.

The first was the call to love and forgive Anthony, the man who murdered my dad.

The second was to write about this experience––both on this blog and to begin writing a book––to show others just what God can do when we choose to follow Him.

Now, you would think the difficulty came when called to interact with the man who murdered my dad. But when Jesus beckoned me to follow Him toward forgiveness––which I knew would require that I delve into the deepest, darkest parts of my soul––I was given grace to follow immediately, without reservation, without rebellion, without questioning Jesus or reasoning with Him. The outcome, as you may know, was mind-blowing. (If you have yet to read about what God did through this journey toward forgiveness, read here or here, along with many other posts on this blog.)

But when I was called to write––I hate to admit this––but I fought Jesus with all I had.

Now, oddly enough, it’s not that I did not want to write––I enjoy writing. It’s not that I did not want to share my testimony––I wanted to share, I wanted the whole world to know what God had done. It’s not that I did not want to bring glory to God, for that’s the sole driving force behind all that I do. In fact, I want my life to be a huge banner pointing to the glory of God as a follower of Christ.

I think, perhaps, it was fear that hindered me from following right away.

Honestly, when called to write, I knew God was placing His call on my life. It was what He wanted me to do. Forgiving Anthony felt more like a task (which is a bad way to look at it, I know). But the call to write required a lifelong commitment to my calling, which intimidated me.

When called to write, I thought I had submitted myself to Jesus, but soon, it became clear that I was still holding on to part of my life. I still wanted to control my future. I knew then, as I do now, that He would lead me to great things, things beyond my wildest imagination. But obeying still proved to be difficult.

Finally, after months of wrestling with God, I agreed, and I began to write. During my quiet time with Jesus, He pointed me to Matthew 21:28-31:

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”They said, “The first”….

Jesus was telling me: Yes, you’ve fought me. Yes, you’ve been rebellious, but now… now, you are on the right path. You are doing your Father’s will.

It would have been so much easier to simply follow Jesus when He originally called. How we begin our race, however, isn’t nearly as important as how we finish. What, ultimately, matters is where we find ourselves on our last day.

We are to run this race well, as Paul says. We’re to fight the good fight of faith, but in order to do that, we must follow Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd who guides us along the difficult, narrow path leading us to the gates of eternity.

One thing is clear. We cannot accomplish this apart from Jesus.

So, when Jesus calls, follow. [Tweet that]

{When Jesus calls, follow.}

Share your testimony. How has following Jesus impacted your life?

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} God is Bigger

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Laurie Coombs

As I began writing this, a song came to mind. I have two little girls, and for a long time, they loved Veggie Tales, and they loved the song “God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man.”

It’s a catchy tune.

But in all seriousness, this truth was pivotal in my walk with God, and even now, I have to remind myself that God is bigger than whatever is going on in my life, and that I can trust Him with all that I have and all that I am.

He’s bigger than my fears. He’s bigger than whatever situation I find myself in. He’s bigger than my past and my past hurts, as well as my past successes or failures. He’s bigger than my future and what trials or achievements may come.

He’s bigger than my enemies. He’s bigger than Satan and evil. God is bigger than my sin and my fleshly desires.

But what’s most comforting to me is that God is even bigger than my resistance. He’s bigger than my will and my rebellious nature.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- Romans 8:37-39

Indeed, God is bigger.

{We are safe in His loving arms.}

Are you ever tempted to allow your situation or anything else loom larger than the God, who is in control of all things?

Join in 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.

{Redemption} “Your Testimony May Have Saved a Life!”

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Laurie Coombs

“Your testimony may have saved a life!” wrote Anthony––the man who murdered my dad––from his prison cell. Holding the letter, I stood in stunned silence, tears rolling down my face.

Oh Lord, I thought, as I closed my eyes and dropped my head back, in awe. There really were no words. Thank you, Lord, thank you, was all that I could say in worship to our mighty God.

I was called to forgive. To love my enemy. To allow Jesus unhindered access to the pain, the bitterness, and the wounds of my past which took residence in the deepest recess of my soul.

I knew that He wanted to take me to a new, better place. A place of healing, peace, and forgiveness. So, I followed. By the grace of God alone, I followed Jesus as He led me down the messy, war-torn path toward wholeness. It was a trial like no other, yet upon reading this letter, it was all worth it, as I witnessed the fruit of following Jesus.

Anthony wrote:

I read your testimony at our church service yesterday and today, I told them what an amazing God we serve that could bring two people at opposite ends of the spectrum together in forgiveness. That this story has particular meaning to me cuz I’m who it was written about, I’m the one who killed her dad. I then I said not only had you forgiven me but you’d encouraged me. Then I read the last paragraph of your last letter! I told them nothing is unforgivable, Christ was crucified for every sin. I told them to place God in the center of their most broken relationship and pray. They may not find that kind of forgiveness but they would find forgiveness in them and then they’d know the peace that surpasses all understanding.

There were men crying, one guy stood up and said he’d lost his wife to another man (I didn’t tell them why I had done what I’d done). He said for the last few months he had decided when he got out he was going to kill the man. Now He’d decided to pray and forgive. Your testimony may have saved a life! How awesome is our God! God has used you and me and this horrible crime to heal, not only us, but others. Now your forgiveness has truly settled into my heart. I won’t let your dad’s life nor mine be in vain, I promise. Thank you for making it possible to share this amazing testimony. I believe God is not finished with either of us, tomorrow is a good day.

This is something only Jesus can do. No human could have even begun to orchiestrate what He has done through my journey to forgiveness.

Anthony, who was once sorrowful, but not repentant, came to repent before the Lord and went on to live to the glory of God within the confines of his prison. In fact, I received a letter from him a couple weeks ago telling me about a revival service that he helped with where over 20 inmates came forward to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior during the alter call (which was more than they’ve ever seen).

And I, who was once burdened by the anger and bitterness that weigh many victims down, was freed from the prison of anger/bitterness and was set on a new path proclaiming the glory of our Lord, and what He can do through our obedience to His call.

This is what God does. He takes our messes and brings redemption and beauty.

And my question to you today is this: How might Jesus want to use your testimony to the benefit of others?

We each have a story to tell. Each Christ follower has experienced God’s redemption, and for those who have yet to come to faith in Jesus, the moment you submit your life to Christ, you will experience it.

So, what’s holding you back from sharing your testimony?

{When you are transparent, God uses your testimony!}