When Laura Sobiech and I planned time to talk about her memoir, “Fly a Little Higher,”
we had no idea God had already connected our lives in the most unexpected way.What unfolded just two days before our interview left us both in tears and in awe of God.
If you’re reading this via email CLICK HERE to watch a short video that will give your heart a huge dose of HOPE and encouragement! I promise, you do not want to miss it!!
It’s been two weeks since Laura, Andrew and I talked via SKYPE and
I’m still undone by God’s grace, mercy, kindness and sovereignty.
TARGET Holiday Book Club Pick: Laura’s memoir, “FLY A LITTLE HIGHER: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way” is the Target Holiday Book Club Pick! And it is the perfect gift for your self and those you love! This exclusive edition created for Target is signed by Laura and includes special bonus materials: an in-depth Q&A with Laura, discussion questions for readers, small groups and families, and really powerful devotionals in the back!
ORDER a copy for yourself and a few friends for Christmas.
DOWNLOAD Chapter One for FREE
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What part of today’s videos impacted you most? CLICK “Share Your Thoughts” and do just that. Each comment will be entered to win one of the 5 copies of “Fly A Little Higher.”
SUBSCRIBE to MY YouTube CHANNEL and you’ll be the first to know when the rest of Andrew’s conversation with Laura is ready for viewing. PLUS I’ve made all of Laura’s interview segments really easy to find in their own section on my front page. After her Q&A with Andrew, I got to ask Laura how she balanced her own loss and grief while guiding and supporting Zach through his cancer journey. She was also planning a wedding for her oldest daughter and loving on her other children and husband. I’ve never met anyone like Laura. Her faith and courage are rare. Her insights come from a humble, wise heart that has been broken and made whole by the love of Christ. Be sure you don’t miss the next segments coming up.
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I SO needed to see this interview! Is there a way to get a copy of the video your son mentioned seeing? I have six children, and am most concerned about the one that sees Christianity as just another religion rather than a personal relationship with God.
Thank you for sharing the interview!!
God works all things for our good. Love reading stories about His faithfulness.
So amazing how God works! His timing is perfect! Renee, so happy that your son Andrew was the “soul” that she prayed for if God called Zach home. Can’t wait to read the book!
Where can I find the 365 personalizeable devotions that you mentioned giving to your husband for Christmas??
I couldn’t find it either. Here is a link I found. http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/04/16/how-to-make-a-scripture-personalized-box/
I am just blown away by this teen’s story and the song is soo profound. I hope I can read the story and glean from what it means to truly live when there is such uncertainty and pain in this world. Thank you Renee for sharing this!
How mysteriously the hand of God is at work.
I can hardly wait to read this.
Thanks for sharing this story. Looking forward to reading more about it in the book.
The video interview was powerful with Renee and Laura. having read “Confident Heart” 3 times(!), I deeply appreciate the message that God is with me, no matter what. Thank you for this powerful video and book.
Thank you for sharing this. I too have been praying for my son who has walked away from the Lord. He suffers from depression also. I would love to know how your son found his way back to the Lord.
How hard for us to just stand back and give God the reigns. Wonderful inspiration to all and what a way to show God’s work. Faith to know God is at work when most of the time we can’t see what HIS plan is for our life and a perfect time of year for this story as the reason for the season is approaching and most have forgotten what CHRISTmas is all about. Thank you for sharing
I would love to win this! This sounds like a very good book and I am anxious to read it! 🙂
How amazing our God is. To know that even before Andrew drifted away, God had a plan to gently bring him back . God had already answered Laura’s prayer before she prayed it, Zach’s life would touch a soul, Andrew and draw him back to the Father. Hope opens the door for God to accomplish what seems to be impossible to us. Praise God for His faithfulness.
We all need a reminder to not give up hope sometimes. We tend feel very alone in our struggles. Proverbs 31 Ministries has helped me through many of my own battles and I appreciate you ladies very, very much.
I’m always looking for interesting and inspiring reads. It’s always wonderful to see the way God works.
Praising God and thanking Him for these lives! I’m currently watching and walking alongside a family member that is struggling with trusting God and finding peace with Him. I know He hears my prayers and one day they will be answered and He will be glorified thru this.
What touched me most was Laura’s prayer for just one soul. My husband recently went through throat cancer and is still dealing with the side effects of the treatment. Our prayer was that God would be glorified through this ordeal. Now my prayer will be like Laura’s – just one soul. Thank you. Thank you. and Praise be to God!
Wow! I have God bumps! What I love the most was her prayer. I am terminal as well and try to live every day on earth for a similar purpose!
Thankyou for sharing this amazing story. It brought back to me what an awesome God we serve and that I need to remember to pray for Gods will not mine.
All I can say is that this truly touched my heart so much that I am so EXCITED to want to read the book now! This is an AMAZING story about how POWERFUL prayer really and truly is. Our God is an Awesome God!
God is sooo good!! Thank you both for sharing this God given experience!! Our three daughters have turned away from God and I pray each day, sometimes all day for them to come back to Jesus!! I ask for prayer for them to be saved!! It’s God’s timing, not mine and I continue to pray for them!! Just thank you, thank you both!! Blessings and Merry Christmas to you and your families!!
Laura’s prayer was the same prayer we prayed when my grandson Andrew was born and given 3 days to live. He is our miracle boy! He is almost 7 now, but is medically fragile, trached and vented, and respiratory compromised. He has been closer to going home to Jesus than most children many times. He is my student and has been since he began attending public school at age 3. We have experienced the sorrows of the loss of two of Andrew’s classmates and the joy of knowing that they have gone home to their Father! I pray every day for Andrew andalso give him to his loving Father. Thy will be done! Amen!
I have followed Zach’s story for many years – I’m getting the book to read over Christmas break…. I love the videos too… I had to go on Youtube and watch Clouds from the Mall of America again after watching the videos… just love that sight of all of those people singing along…
Blessings to you all from SD!
I lost my son 6 yrs ago in a car wreck. I can’t imagine having to watch him go slowly. In the days after, I discovered just how many lives he had touched and had some comfort in knowing he had served his purpose. Like my Bradley(who also played guitar!), Zach brought joy and love to those around him and those he left behind. Laura, Your videos have blessed my heart; thank you for sharing your precious boy with us!
“If you leave at 18-years-old or 87-years-old, the end goal is to be with God.” I hope I always remember this.
It just goes to show how we never know what we say or do may impact someone else. God helps us plant the seeds and He will take it from there and help them grow. Amazing !
Wow, God is so good. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. I know what is going in my cart the next time I go to Target. I love the idea to give it as a gift.
I hope that if I were in this situation I could say, ” not my will, but Yours.”
That is a lot to say it and mean it.
The fact that GOD has a way of always showing us how our prayers are answered
I am so thankful you shared this with us. It touched my heart to hear how Zack gave so much to others in his short time. God took our son the day before our oldest daughter birthday & just 3 weeks before our youngest daughter turned 16. He had a massive heart attack. I am so thankful Gad gave Zack’s mom the time to share so much with him. I feel so blessed that she could share so much with us. I am sure it was painful for her. Thank you God for Zack’s mom. I am thankful to know my son is with God.
Thank you God for Zack & his mom.
My love to Zack’s mom.
Wow Renee I am so happy for the change in Andrew, and so happy for your family. There is nothing more important than a life changed through Jesus. I loved the video of Andrew sharing with Laura…so moving. I pray this heart change for all six of my grandchildren – 16 yrs down to 2yrs. 🙂
I know Laura’s prayer has been answered – that something BIG indeed has happened through Zach’s life and will continue.
Bless you Renee as you bless others!
I would love to win this book. The part of the video that is standing out to me the most is; we have to submit to God’s will… His will is best & “trumps” my will. Even when it is agonizing & extreme to us, we can know that God has our best in mind.
All I can say right now is thank you for sharing this interview.
What a “Mighty GOD we serve”. This has blessed my soul.Thank you for sharing.It teaches me to be specific in my prayers.Also to believe God to do what he said he would do.I am forever greatful to God for your ministry.Thank you for being obedient.
I lost a child when she was 3 years old to cancer and I can relate to any parent loosing a child. It is hard to understand the whys at that point. But being a Christian I knew that God would heal my little girl either here or in heaven. I felt empty when she was gone, but I was never angry at God for taking her home. Lose can sometimes make it stronger. God is good and his mercy does endure forever.
God is good all the time. ALL THE TIME God is good!!!
AWESOME.
<3
I would LOVE to win a copy of this book!! Thank you for the chance!!
My son is 18 and he has that “love” Zach talked about. It is rare in a teenager. He has had a rough time, but God is his strength. I lost my job Saturday. I’d like the book for my son.
My younger sister is currently on Hospice care for end stage cancer. Following Zach’s story has definitely helped to keep my own Faith alive. Thank you for sharing….higher purpose indeed.
{Love} this so so much….
The hope and faith that Zach’s mom has is inspiring. The prayer about not her will but God’s just amazes me.
Its neat to hear God connections and answered prayer. I really loved the reminder that our ultimate hope is for all our family to be in heaven. Even though it is hard to think of not having your family here, you do want to them to be in heaven with no pain or tears. With aging family, this was what I needed to hear today. Thanks!
I am struggling with A LOT of things right now. When I look at this video- my struggles are minimized because I have NOTHING to compare to losing a child. However, this MOM has given me HOPE
The comparison to Jesus praying in the garden so touched my heart. We can really pour out our hearts to Father God. Thank you for sharing.
How wonderful that Zach’s life impacted Renee’s son and pointed him back to the Lord. We never know how God will use our situation in someone else’s life! I read the first chapter of the book and can’t wait to get a copy!!
What an AWESOME GOD we serve:)
Wow! That’s all. Wow!