Where the Healing Begins

My guest today is Laurie Coombs. You won't want to miss where the healing begins in her new book:

Letters from My Father's Murderer

By Laurie Coombs

I didn’t want to revisit my past, but I knew I needed to. I had already seen God move mightily on my behalf in the short time since giving my life to Christ, but I knew He wasn’t finished yet.

Healing begins the moment we allow Jesus complete access to the darkness contained within our souls. (Click to Tweet) 

Darkness must flee in the presence of light, in the presence of Jesus, but light cannot go where it is not permitted. Doors must be opened for light’s rays to touch our darkest dark. And at this point, I was flinging doors open left and right, begging, Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Soon, I heard God’s gentle whisper––“It’s time to forgive.”

I knew what God was calling me to. I knew I was being called to forgive Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. (Click to Tweet) But quite honestly, I thought I had already done that. Yet over the course of the next several weeks, God slowly showed me that, while I had forgiven Anthony as far as I was capable, I needed His grace to forgive completely, to forgive unconditionally.

But then God took it a step further––“Love your enemy,” He said.

At that, I cried out to God and said, “Okay, God, I get this whole forgiveness thing, but love my enemy? How am I to do that?”

I wrestled with what God was calling me to do, but I had read account after account in Scripture of God redeeming losses. Of God healing physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I saw Jesus’s heart toward the brokenhearted, and I believed God could do all that for me as well. I didn’t want my faith to be just a belief system. I wanted it to be real. I wanted it to impact my life. I wanted it to change the way I lived. So I followed, believing wholeheartedly that God would deliver. That He would faithfully keep His promises.

And He did.

What began with a simple, seemingly insignificant call to love and forgive my enemy led to years of correspondence with the man who murdered my dad, through which I witnessed God do the impossible. I have seen God redeem a situation that seemed without hope or purpose. He has brought good out of evil, love out of hate, and peace out of despair. God has truly worked all things for good in my life. And I believe with all my heart that He will do that for you as well, if you let Him.

I pray you will.

You see, God has not left us to sit in our pain. (Click to Tweet) Jesus came to heal. He is our redeemer, and I know it is His desire to lift each of us out of our despair and bring us in—to a new, better place. A place rich in beauty and blessings. But in order to get there, we must be willing to allow God unhindered access to all the pain and bitterness and anger in our souls. And we must be willing to forgive.

For this is where our healing begins.

Letters from My Father’s Murderer: A Journey of Forgiveness––which tells an incredible true story of grace, mercy, and the redemptive power of God––has just been released. It’s available wherever books are sold. Be sure to pick up your copy today!

Laurie Coombs is a passionate writer and speaker on the issues of forgiveness, redemption, and the hope found in Jesus. She is the author of Letters from My Father’s Murderer: A Journey of Forgiveness, an incredible true story of grace, mercy, and the redemptive power of God. Her story was featured in Billy Graham’s film, Heaven, and she is a featured writer and blogger for iBelieve and Crosswalk. Laurie and her husband, Travis, make their home in Nevada along with their two daughters, Ella and Avery.

For more information about Laurie or to book her for a speaking engagement, visit LaurieCoombs.org. And be sure to connect with her on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

You can order a copy of Letters from My Father's Murderer: A Journey of Forgiveness

You can also find it at:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | ChristianBook | Books-A-Million | Powell’s | Parable

An Unexpected Lesson About Rest

Rest has been a theme here at The Stream's Edge. A message I need to hear. Maybe you do too. 

Join my guest, Dr. Michelle Bengston today with her thoughts about the subject. Often the unexpected lessons are the ones we hear the loudest.

Welcome, Dr. Michelle...

Finding My Lost Perspective

If you have a family member serving in the military, you understand the emotions that can roll over you on any given day. Edie Melson offers an experienced mom's view in her newest book, While My Soldier Serves. Edie is my guest today. Be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win a copy of this wonderful resource for military families.

I remember those days following our son’s choice to enlist in the Marine Corps. It was a daunting time, filled with pride and a bit of fear sprinkled in. I was proud of my son’s decision to serve, but in the back of my mind lay a fog of fear about what that service might demand from him.

Over the next few months, as our son began his many months of training, I settled more and more into a sense of pride and excitement. He was following his dream and doing it well.

Then came his first of two deployments. Those were difficult times, and that knot of fear unwound, taking over my entire world.

As I struggled to gain a measure of peace, I took a drive. We live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and that was where I fled. I pulled out of my driveway at dawn, and God surprised me with a glorious sunrise reflecting off a sky full of puffy clouds. Everything about it held the promise of great things to come.

But as I got closer to my goal in the mountains, those clouds that had made the sunrise so gorgeous descended and fog engulfed my car. I was forced to slow down—almost to a crawl at times—because it was so thick. Discouragement returned, and I almost turned around. Something inside urged me on though, and I kept going; climbing higher into the peaks I loved so well.

I continued up the steep road and just yards from my goal, the clouds parted and the sun appeared, bathing me in it’s warmth. I took a deep breath and the tension that had crept in from diving in such perilous conditions disappeared, and peace returned. I parked and got out to fully appreciate the magnificent view before me.

The clouds that had hung so low, obscuring my path to the top, just added depth and a new perspective to the beauty of what I saw now. I stopped as inspiration struck. I’d been so wrapped up in what was happening, I’d lost my perspective. (Click to Tweet)

My drive was so much like what was happening in my life. The fog may seem like it’s going to last forever, but it’s not.  (Click to Tweet) Even more than that, it’s not a matter of the sun returning, it’s always there, whether I can see it or not.

I could have chosen to park, waiting for the fog to dissipate. I could have turned around and gone back. Instead, I kept going, driving up toward the sun.

I learned a valuable lesson that day. No matter what fog engulfs my circumstances, if I keep my mind focused upward, I’ll find that God hasn’t moved.

What have you found as a reminder that God is always present? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Blessings,

Edie

While My Soldier Serves

Thousands of families send loved ones off to fight on a daily basis. These families spend a lot of time living in a world out of control. This kind of stress can take an incredible toll, but there is hope. When we feel helpless, we can take our fears to the One who loves us more than anything and holds the universe in His hands.

In this book you’ll find the words to usher you into His presence. These prayers are a place to visit again and again as you take your own fears to God. They’re just a starting point, written to help you find your own voice as you call out on behalf of the one you love.

BIO:

As the mother of a frontline infantry Marine, Edie Melson lived this book before she wrote it. Edie understands what it is to face adversity and come out triumphant on the other side. Her years as a wife, mother, and ministry leader have given her a unique perspective to reach out
to others facing the same struggles.
She's the Military Family Blogger for Guideposts.org, social media director for several writing websites, and a popular ministry and conference speaker. Connect with her on her blog, The Write Conversation, Twitter, and Facebook.