In May 2013, our son Andrew told us he was an atheist. The boy we knew and loved had been fading away for months, but we couldn’t get him to tell us why. Now we knew.
We prayed. We begged God to intervene. We had no idea how He would answer.
If you’ve ever prayed for someone you desperately loved …
If you’ve ever needed to know God hears you, and He’s working in ways you can’t see …
If you’ve ever longed to see God bring good out of something really hard …
If you don’t do anything else today, please WATCH this video.
WIN a $20 TARGET Gift Card
along with a copy of “Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way.” This is a powerful story of faith, hope and uncommon courage. Zach and his family have inspired ours to live with intentional meaning and purpose – no matter how hard life gets. My 19 and 16 year old boys both read the book in less then two days. It’s that good! #ChristmasGiftIdeas #GoodReadsENTER TO WIN
In this video, you heard about God’s HUGE unexpected surprise for Laura and me. What was it? What is one thing Laura prayed for — that she told Andrew he was for her??CLICK “Share Your Thoughts” below this point to enter. YOUR COMMENT enters you to win the $20 TARGET Gift Card and a copy of ““Fly a Little Higher.” Winners will be chosen and announced this weekend!
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As Andrew and Laura continued they had a powerful conversation about Zach’s faith and scripture Laura held onto for strength and comfort. The next segement will only be available on my YouTube Channel. So, if you’d like to be notified when it’s uploaded, please SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel.
I will definitely check this out. I find that I struggle with prayer, but know how oh so powerful it is. Thanks for sharing this!
Beautiful.
Wow! Tears in my eyes and a heart that is overwhelmed by people sharing the light of Christ. I am a mom and I work in children’s ministries. I don’t consider myself brave, but I walk in the confidence of Christ. I don’t a degree or higher education but I have a heart that is willing to serve. And it occurred to me a few weeks ago of the impact that I have on these children’s lives. My biggest heart’s desire that they take the foundation of Christ that has been laid before them and they stand strong when life storms rage around them. I want their beacon of Jesus to shine so bright that others will see the way.
I am not sure what the future holds for my family but I hope that we can be used by God just like Laura and her family. How amazing to such a divine intervention between your families! To have Andrew be the one soul that Laura prayed for. God is so amazing, and proves everyday that He cares for us!
How awesome! I love to see God at work in unexpected ways! I’ve seen this sooooo many times throughout my life, and stand in awe every time! I would love to read this book!
Love how God crossed your paths in such a powerful and used your sons to impact His kingdom!! He does answer prayer…so grateful Andrew was a soul God touched and trust there will be many more!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
I wish I could have been as brave as Zach mom when I lost my son. I read the first ch. & cried all the way through it. I downloaded his service. It broke my heart when they let all the blue balloons go in the air.
Thank you for sharing.
Love & prayers.
So need to hear He is hearing my prayers right now. I know it in my head…………..needs to travel to my heart and stay there. Help me Lord. I know you are. Would love to read the book. Lord You alone know who needs to receive this. You decide and all will be blessed anyway,because WE are ALL Blessed!
Laura prayed for Zach’s life/death to change at least one person’s life forever, that prayer was answered in the form of Andrew, redisco ering hos Faith in God. Makes my heart so happy.
I know the heartbreak of praying for those you love desperately to come to the Lord. Thanks so much for sharing the first chapter (I’m downloading it now) and for the chance to win. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Laura reminded me soooooo much of our family’s battle with dad’s cancer which started almost 5 years ago. Dads been Home with Jesus almost 2 years now.
My dad was my all and I fought hard as Laura did for the lord to heal him this side of heaven. My prayer always ended with not my will but yours be done, though the pain in my heart and gut was excruciating…much love an olive would feel when it was pressed.
One early morning, I saw dad upon awakening and I literally ran out the back door, which leads to the back porch. I found a bench and poured my heart and spirit into the hands of God as I sobbed. Many times, I told the lord that as long as I knew He existed, I was not going to stop hoping for, and believing in a healing miracle. That morning, my prayer was radically changed. I told the lord that as bad and as selfishly I wanted dad here on earth, I did not want to see him in the condition he was in. I told him, “you either heal him and keep him here, or you take him now!” I told him I was laying my dad, my hero, my all on the altar, just like he asked Abraham to lay his own son, just like the Father laid His only Son.
I cleaned up, Dad and I got worship, pray and read God’s Word one last time. Asked if he wanted to continue praying, worshipping and reading, to which he responded, “no, I’d like to rest now.” A few hours later, dad entered into Heaven, and he found healing and that rest he longed for.
God was soooooo gracious to wait until I was ready to whole heartily let dad go. He asked me for my most treasured possession and in torturous agony, He gave me the strength and courage to fulfill His will.
I so believe this is a very timely story for all of us. to bring us to a better understanding of” waiting on the lord.”
We forget so often that prayer is not our shopping list, that to really submit to His will is going to bring us closer to Him, and therefore bring us everything we need.
So happy for you and your family that this story brought you back together!
This sounds like an amazing story and I would LOVE to read this book!!!!!!!! I myself have a teenage son and I think this would bless his heart too! Thank you for letting us know about such a wonderful book. God Bless!
This sounds like an amazing book for all mothers of all ages of children to read. I plan to give a copy to my cousin, who just lost her daughter to a blood clot only 4 days after giving birth to a healthy baby boy. Now she has lost her daughter and her new grandson will be raised without knowing his sweet mother. To make it worse, she is worried that her daughter was no longer a believer, even though she was raised in the church.
A story and book like this can only come from God. I can’t wait to read the book. God has already used Zach’s life (and death) to bring Andrew back to God, through the prayers of his beautiful-hearted mom. Such a great ‘connection’ that only God can make. Only God knows how many more ‘Andrews’ (and ‘Andreas’ – the female version ;)) this book will touch, and bring back to Him.
I pray comfort and peace and joy (soon) for Laura and her family as they see the ‘something big’ come out of Zach’s life and death. May they be blessed beyond measure.
Thanks Renee, bless you.
I would like to read this book.
One soul! What moved the most is how she gave that one soul to God saying she never expected to meet them but then God rewarded her sacrifice in such a huge way!
as i sat and listen to the segment i prayed for Laura’s kind of faith, YOUR will be done, whatever it takes for the one more soul (my son)..and then to hear the testimony of Renee’s son, wow! and how i have been encountered by my own son just Saturday night telling me how he feels he has lost his faith. my heart shattered and leaped for joy all at the same time. after years of praying for my son’s salvation. he made a profession of faith at the age of 13 but i never saw any real change, no fruit, no hunger for the things of God i always felt in my spirit that that was all it was, a profession, just head knowledge. now he is 21 and trying to figure things out, questioning things, wondering if it’s all real. he would never talk to me about it always wanting to change the subject, so for him to bring it up was huge. please pray for him as he tries to work it all out with God. pray for me as i try to be the quiet prayer warrior and that i will have wisdom when to speak and when to be silent. thank you ladies so much. i want Brandon to watch this, read this book, i want him to hear Zach’s story, i want him to hear Andrews story too. please pray for Brandon as he struggles and that God will move in his life with such evidence of His Holy Spirit power and that he will be truly born again and burning with a heart for God. <3
I started to read the first chapter and had to stop and control myself as I started to weep for Laura and Zach.
My niece was diagnosed with breast cancer this past year and it has been a tough year for my family, but we believe in an all mighty God who heard our prayers and she is now cancer free! I know this does not bring comfort for those who have lost loved ones to the disease. I do however know that God has a plan for us all and if death may come too soon let it be to glorify the name of our Lord!
I’m going through a hard time with my mother. She has lung cancer. I am struggling with what to pray for, and it’s hard explaining to my kids why these things happen and how they can “be alright” with the thought of losing their grandmother. I need this book! <3
This is an exceptional video and so heart touching. I cannot even fathom it. We pray for our kids every day. Whether sick or healthy, they are God’s children. He will take care of them whether it’s how we, imagined or not. I do pray for such a protection on my kiddo’s every day. I pray for this mama who wrote this book. She is such a strong woman of God! I hope to be as strong as her in my daily life! Blessings!
I have a granddaughter who I would love to have this book. She is searching for understanding about God and the people around her. Young adults need to learn about faith in God to get through obstacles they are going to face day by day. This will be a blessing to have.
She is reaching for hope, just like the world around us today. Everybody needs something to believe in. Now is the time for Christians to be standing up, reaching out, and receiving others with arms wide open. We get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of this life, often forgetting that we are only passing through this world. We need to be sharing the good news of Christ with everyone we meet – no matter how intimidating or awkward it may seem. Others need to be able to see Jesus in and through us.
I am constantly praying to hear God’s will for my life. I know it will happen on HIS time not mine. What a wonderful story. Blessings
This book is a must read. I will definitely be purchasing it. I have been praying for some health concerns of my daughter and really do feel God hears the prayers, sometimes the answer is not what we think it should be but what he has planned. I know his plans have purpose!
I would be honored to receive the book.
I am constantly praying that God’s will will be for my daughter. Although she keeps interrupting his plan I know that He will come through and turn her and her life around for good. I do now have peace about all of this and faith in God.
When I am struggling with something, I tell GOD, “You see what I don’t see and You know what I don’t know”. I have to speak it out loud so I can hear myself saying it. It helps me to relax more, knowing that GOD is in control of the things that am perplexed about.
I love that Karen!!
I have watched the interviews several times over the last couple of days. What an incredible story how God connected you and Laura even before the interview. I love how Laura prayed for one soul to be turned to God. I am thankful that one of the souls was you son Andrew.
I want to read her story. My name is also Laura, and I have a son that was a drug dealer a few years ago. God brought him out of that dangerous world and this past summer, he accepted Christ. I would share this book with him.
Would love to read this book. Inspiration is much needed right now.
What a heartbreaking thing to have to deal with and watch in your own child but turned to triumph making the trial so worthwhile. I just pray that my own daughter will use the life God has given her to reach higher for His glory and that He will help me to be a good example and better Mama to her with each passing day.
Ordering this book to read as a family and will then share with other family members and friends. I downloaded the chapter one for free and can’t wait for my book to arrive. Would love to have another copy to pass onto someone else. Thank you for sharing this awesome story and for sharing yet another story of our AMAZING GOD!!! Blessings to all and Merry CHRISTmas.
What an amazing story! Bitter sweet for Laura to find her prayer to be answered. But isn’t like our AMAZING GOD to answer beyond what she asked……to be connected to one soul touched by her sons story! I was not only touched by Zach’s amazing faith but more so by Laura……Her faith to surrender her son and her obedience to God as a mother! This speaks volumes as well! It is evident that the amazing faith of the son stems from the obedience of his mother, Laura. Her obedience to bring up her son in the way of the Lord, to teach, to pray, to love as Jesus did! Thank you Laura for telling your story and Renee for sharing it! I was truly blessed today. I am adding this book to my list- to read!
I would love to read this book. I also am a mom of a teenage son, and I am always looking for a Christ centered inspirational story to share with him.
What a wonderful surprise for Laura that she was able to meet the soul that she had prayed for by meeting Andrew. I want my life to count for something and to bring others to Christ by His light and peace in me in much the same way that Andrew mentioned that he saw in Zach. That peace that passes all understanding is a powerful sermon in itself.
Laura’s story is inspiring.
I would love to read this book. It looks very powerful. Laura’s faith and hope inspires and encourages me.
I would love to read this book and share it with my two teenagers. I pray that whoever wins the free copy will be blessed beyond measure by it.
This looks like a very powerful book. As a mom of 2 teenagers, and another that will be a teenager soon…….. I can certainly use ANY help and motivation to guide my kids to the Lord more and more every day.
Thank you for this fantastic giveaway!!!
Praying for you tonight Angelina!
Am right now so desperately on my knees for my daughter – sounds like this book would offer some nice encouragement. I know God is hearing me…keep hoping against hope right?
Keep praying and hoping and loving her Deborah. God hears and He wants to love her through you. Praying for you both tonight.
I can’t wait to read this. As a youth leader it sounds like something wonderful to share with our kiddos. God is so amazing in every way, even in the most tragic of times.
Oh it would be such a great book to read and discuss with your youth group!! 🙂
I would love to read and share this book with my family. I also would love to be inspired by this read! I think all of us have wondered if God hears or sees, knowing deeply He does, but just needing that confirmation. I hope to read this!
It’s so good. And it’s on sale today for $12.79 at Target. 🙂
This looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing the information with us.
You’re welcome. So glad you were able to hop over and join us today.
I would love to read this book. It speaks to me.
I lost my best friend, my sister, in 1995 who was 21 when she died.
I remember her hooked up to all the machines keeping her alive, and the doctors saying that her time was close.
I was 20, walked into the waiting room , fell on my knees and prayed. ” That’s my sister in there, I don’t want to lose her. However Lord, your will be done and I’ll be ok”.
That was a hard prayer, but for me, I’ ve had to lean on that prayer a lot since then.
So very sorry for your loss Gladys. I can’t imagine the pain and heartbreak. Praying for you today. Praying that today’s message brings assurance and comfort to your heart today.
Read first chapter, have to read more
I agree. It captured my heart and couldn’t put it down. Such a powerful story, and Laura is such a great writer too.
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I have been in a place where I have been praying for several years wondering these same questions, does God hear me? does He care? will He ever answer? I am waiting but easily find myself doubting and discouraged. My heart aches. Thank you for your promising words of hope.
Praying for you Jodi. He does hear. I have to remind myself each day with each doubt that — like the wind, even though I can’t see God I can be sure He is there.
Saw this and before I read any further..the words reached me deep in my heart….He is saying He hears me praying for my husband…so faithful is He! Looking forward to reading this book. I am seeking!
Yes, He hears Rachael. Praying with you today.
God is bigger than we are and I love hearing stories about how he turns troubles into triumph. I would love to get my hands on this book and for my kids to read it as well.
The way God was working behind the scenes has strengthened my heart and my faith so deeply.
I have begged God to hear his voice. I pray He will answer others prayers
Praying with you and for you Tina!!
I find this story so enticing and can’t wait to get my hands on this book. To hear how Renee’s son, Andrew’s, life was changed because he saw Zach’s story and to know how that lined up with Zach’s mom’s prayer for something big is powerful. I only hope I will always pray “not my will but Yours” and that I will be as responsive in my heart to what I see as Andrew was. Thanks for sharing your stories.
Me too Tristi. So grateful for Laura’s prayer and Zach’s courage. So very thankful for the way God used Zach’s story to start breaking down the walls of deceit and hopelessness built around Andrew’s heart.