As sad news of mega churches beginning to crumble, video podcaster, Laura- Lynn Tyler Thompson can be seen on YouTube keeping people updated on what’s going on. She uses facts--not gossip--to reveal how churches whose public monetary support continues to accumulate into millions of dollars. She warns the public about churches that have turned into for-profit businesses. But that can be seen daily on several news podcasts, and that’s not what this writing is about. It’s about one of the most redeemed overcomer I ever learned about. I’d like to give a review of her book, RELENTLESS REDEMPTION, (published in 2013 by Harrison House).

Sin is sin (even tho some Bibles are being printed to delete what actions are said to be sin. And, some churches that are not preaching what sin is, are turning America into a ‘free-for-all’, ‘do-your own-thing’ world, leaving the Gospel of Jesus behind.) We are all sinners who can be redeemed from sin by turning our lives over to Jesus, the Son of God, asking for forgiveness, and making an honest effort to live according to His example. Thompson is a staunch believer of Jesus...but she, like others, does make mistakes.

Thompson shares her self-destructive mistakes in order to prove that her mistakes that could take her to Hell, can be redeemed through asking God for forgiveness and making an honest effort to live according to biblical standards. What I really liked about her book was that she implemented encouraging Scripture throughout as she kept persevering.

As she was walking down the church aisle to be wed, it was then that as she looked at her husband-to-be, she realized she wasn’t in love with him. But she married him anyway, thinking her love would grow. Even though he was a good, caring man, her love for him never developed. As years passed, she felt stronger and stronger that she was cheating herself. They had one child. who was supposed to have added ‘glue’ to patch up their marriage. It didn’t. Finally, she divorced him, shocking everyone she knew.

It was some time later that she fell in love with another man who was charismatic and fun-loving--at first. He finally began showing a side of himself she had never seen. I personally came to a conclusion that he was bi-polar. They had 2 children but as his rage increased over the slightest things, she realized he could seriously harm her and the children. She finally left him, but because she had become a successful podcaster in Christian social media, their divorce became prolonged and messy. Then the company she worked for was sold and she lost her job.

During all the years of working her way up in social media, she was fortunate to have friends who helped babysit. And, during these years, she kept believing she was a broken, discarded (from God) girl whose only true desire was to be a beacon of light to others who have failed too greatly to ever be used by God. She believes that we all have been created with a magnificent destiny to fulfill. Because Jesus went to the cross to redeem us from our sins, He can bring new believers to a new life even if we botch up our one and only life.

Thompson shares so many downfalls in her life that I kept asking myself, as I kept reading, that how in the world did she finally overcome her battle with a harassing husband who wanted her back, with a church who didn’t try to help her, and with co-workers who discouraged her greatly. What kept her going?

Thompson wonders how she stumbled through the darkness for years before she realized that God had outlined the path to freedom in the Scriptures. She says that God ‘s Word is powerful as stated in Hebrews 4:12: ‘For the Word of God is alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing, and effective);’...’it penetrates the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit’...’exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart..’

Thompson felt deeply in her heart that God had spoken to her about wanting to use her on television. She experienced so many unbelievable attacks in trying to get to place that she could do God’s will, that she sometimes questioned whether she was crazy. Many would have depended on counseling, but that became a problem for her because of not trusting those who had turned their backs on her. So, she kept turning to Scripture to ‘hear’ what God would say to continue to take the next step.

Then, Thompson writes that ‘one of the single most beneficial disciplines of our lives is to learn to be silent and wait for God to speak. if we can master this, we will experience less anxiety and fear and have more focus and clarity on issues that pervade us. We will develop a closer relationship with Him. God speaks to us, but with all the noise of our busy schedules--our iPods, iPhones, iPads and TV shows--how on earth can we hear Him?’ She adds that Jesus told His disciples (in Matthew 6:6) to find a quiet, secluded place so they won’t be tempted to role-pay before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as they can manage. The focus then will shift from them to God,,,, and they will begin to sense His grace. Wow! I ask why we can’t do that today?

What good advice is shared through Thompson’s use of Scriptures. She does finally find a good husband and continues to use the media to share her faith, as she truly believes this is her purpose.

The book encourages us all to believe we are designed with gifts so that God can use us to spread His Gospel found in His inspired Scriptures. And, we should never give up on ourselves. We are loved and are valuable to our Creator.

Have a blessed week, enjoy Spring’s beauty, and care about others because Jesus does.