Saying Yes to God | Laurie Coombs

Archive for the ‘Saying Yes to God’ Category

More like a Hose than a Pitcher

Posted on: February 13th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 3 Comments

God's strength, Holy Spirit, own strength, strength, receive, receiving, receiving God, God, Jesus, faith, giving, burn out, grace, god's grace, blessing, blessed, strength, depleted, empty,

“I feel depleted,” I told my husband. “I feel like Elijah laying under that broom tree.” Travis looked at me curiously. I didn’t pray to die as Elijah had, of course, but I was spent. Why is my tank so empty? I questioned. What am I doing wrong? I was serving, both my family and church, and was pursuing my calling. All good things, by my estimation––things I believed God was calling me to do, and so I was confused. Why am I so burnt out if I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing? The answer came. I was doing it in my own strength. I needed to learn how to receive God’s strength and to allow His Spirit to empower me for the work I was called to. This was perhaps the first time I had become aware of my need to receive. Learning to receive from God…

Same Kind of Different As Me Book Review and Giveaway

Posted on: February 11th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 2 Comments

About once a month or so, I will be reviewing and giving away one of my favorite books. I figure it’s a good way to pass along some great titles and give you some insight into some of the sources that have had an influence on me. I hope you enjoy these posts and find these resources to be as inspirational and influential as I did! “I used to spend a lotta time worryin that I was different from other people, even from other homeless folks. Then, after I met Miss Debbie and Mr. Ron, I worried that I was so different from them that we wadn’t ever gon’ have no kind a’ future. But I found out everybody’s different – the same kind of different as me. We’re all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich…

A Little Known Secret About Myself

Posted on: January 30th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs

receive, receiving, receive God, blessing, receive blessing, giving, pride

I’m going to let you in on a little known secret about myself. It’s something that only those closest to me know, and it’s defiantly something God has been working on with me for quite some time. Are you ready? Here it is–– I have a hard time receiving. Small gifts? Not so much. But anything that can be considered extravagant? Oh yes, friends––that fits the bill. Gifts of this magnitude immediately make me cringe and think, “I can’t accept this!” while knowing I also cannot not receive a gift someone has so thoughtfully given to me. And so I am left in an uncomfortable predicament, with my heart screaming “don’t take it!” and my mouth saying, “Thank you! You shouldn’t have done this.” Now, here’s the interesting part. I love to give. I always have. I remember being on family vacations on a lake as a little girl, asking all of my…

An Intense Season of Growth

Posted on: January 28th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 1 Comment

lessons, learn, spiritual growth, growth, character growth, Jesus, Christ, God, truth, season of growth, refined, refine, surrender, relationship with God, relationship with Jesus, receiving, God's love, love of God, Satan, Spiritual attack, worship, thanksgiving, praise, miracles, fasting, biblical fasting, sabbath, rest, weakness, impossible

God has had me in an intense season of growth over the last month or so. It has been a time of refinement through trial that started the moment I began praying for God to work absolute surrender in me. And though life has been a bit more difficult lately, I have been blessed greatly during this time by the presence of God and by an outpouring of truths He has spoken over me. Last week, I began compiling a list of all God has spoken over me during this season, and as I did, I felt compelled to share the list with you. Some of you may have learned these truths already; others may be learning these truths along with me. But either way, I believe these truths are powerful. So, no matter where you find yourself, I ask that you take these truths in and contemplate them. Pray for God to…

{Guest Post} God’s Hand of Grace

Posted on: January 21st, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 1 Comment

I first became acquainted with Maretha Retief, a native of South Africa, a few months ago when she contacted me to share her incredible story. Born with a disability yet having overcome many obstacles in her life, Maretha has become intimately acquainted with what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth when he said, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” A lesson I am still in the process of learning. Maretha’s testimony is one we all can learn from. It speaks to perseverance, overcoming hardship, and living a life fully submitted to the will of God. So, without further introduction, here is Maretha’s story. I was born with only a pinkie and a thumb on my left hand. A disability that did not escape the eyes of God. He came and took something that…

What Do You Have to Offer?

Posted on: January 16th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 5 Comments

surrender, absolute surrender, God works surrender, offer, offering, be careful what you pray for patience, trial, comfort, comfort idol, idol, righteousness, God, Jesus, humble, submit, draw near to God, Feed 5000, water wine, widow elijah, flour and oil, Luke 18:27

Surrender, I hear over and over. Surrender, my child. I try––time and again, I try––but I fail. Full of frustration and defeat, I cry out with one simple word––how? I will work surrender in you. God whispers. Lay down what you have to offer, and I will work the rest. I pray as I’ve been taught––Lord, I am willing that you make me willing to surrender in absolute surrender––because after all, many of us are willing in concept, but when the realities of surrender encroach upon our self-centered desires, willingness begins to wane. For close to a month now, I have prayed and prayed and prayed for God to work absolute surrender in me with confident assurance that God can and will perform His work in me. And He is. He is working. But anytime we pray audacious prayers such as these, we must be prepared for what’s to come….

On Plans, Yielding, and Walking With God

Posted on: January 14th, 2014 by Laurie Coombs 2 Comments

walking with God, Me myself and bob, Phil Vischer, faith, faithfulness, God, Jesus, trusting God, yielding, mercy, folly, dream, dreams, following Jesus, following dreams, pursuing dreams, plans, our plans, God's plans, wait, waiting, wait for the Lord, foiled plans, dreams die, surrender, surrender to God,

It’s time for a new beginning. Don’t you think? We all need a new beginning from time to time, and what better time than the present. Now, I know you’ve probably heard quite a few messages on the topic of “New Year’s Resolutions” already, so rest assured, this is not another one. “Resolution” messages, while valuable, are often the same. Evaluate your previous year. See what worked. See what didn’t. Set goals. Plan. Plan. Plan…. But honestly, while these exercises do have some merit, I believe most people, while making these plans, unintentionally fail to factor God into their equation. I just finished reading Me, Myself, and Bob over Christmas. It’s written by Phil Vischer, the founder of Veggie Tales, and let me tell you, it’s a good read. In his book, Phil tells the story of the rise and fall of Veggie Tales, a popular Christian children’s video series. In…

Deeper Surrender

Posted on: December 17th, 2013 by Laurie Coombs 8 Comments

believing God, power of holy spirit, Jesus, Christ, Christian, God, call, calling, follow, trust, trusting, faith, surrender, surrendering, surrendering to God, surrendering your life to Jesus, absolute surrender, complete surrender, how to surrender, surrender your will, self will, god's will, human will, offering

I thought I had surrendered to God, but it turns out, I haven’t. At least not completely. I seem to be living out the early stages of God’s call on my life. Every day I wake up, I pray for God to use me and for God to show me the way with willing intent to following His lead, which is why I honestly thought I was living a life surrendered to God. But recently, God has made it clear that my level of surrender is not absolute. Up to this point, I have surrendered only in part. Though I stand willing to do that which God calls me to do, I still want control over my time and how it’s allocated. I must confess; I am not very interruptible. I’ve noticed this before, but it’s become increasingly clear over the past week as certain situations have challenged me to…

Dying to Live

Posted on: December 12th, 2013 by Laurie Coombs 7 Comments

Jesus, die to self, die to live, Romans 12:1-2, deny yourself, take up your cross, Matthew 16, true life, my life is not my own, spiritual growth, surrender, surrendering to God, Jesus, God's will, not my will, weights and sins, 1 Corinthians 6:12

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. – Matthew 16:24-25 I pray for growth––revival. My heart feels stale, and I know I am not where I ought to be. My desire is for the Lord, this has not changed, but a barrier––invisible to the eye but felt in the spirit––stands erect. I want passion and fire to consume every part of my being, as it once had––but it doesn’t. Months go by, and my prayer remain the same. Awaken. Oh, my soul, awaken. I still see glory, as only found in Jesus, but glory has not taken residence within my heart for some time and coldness seems to endure. Joy in the Lord and even passion are present in moments––fleeting moments––but…

Why Do You Cry Out To Me?

Posted on: December 10th, 2013 by Laurie Coombs 4 Comments

God’s people were hard pressed. Slaves to a foreign king, the Israelites cried out to God to intercede on their behalf. Their cries were heard, and scripture tells us “God saw the people of Israel––and God knew” (Exodus 2:25, emphasis mine). He knew their distress––knew their pain––and would soon come bringing deliverance along with Him. We all know what happened next in the story––Moses, the burning bush, the plagues on Egypt––all resulting in Pharaoh’s reluctant release of God’s chosen. The Israelites were free. Set free by the heavy hand of God upon an unbelieving ruler. The story is familiar. So familiar, in fact, that we often miss treasures––hidden just below the surface––that are intended to bring greater depth and richness to that which has become commonplace. I just love how God’s Word is inexhaustible––there are always more treasures to be found. A few months ago, I sat reading Exodus 14…