Letters from My Father's Murderer by Laurie Coombs

“This is a book about redemption,” Coombs writes. It is about seeing something good come out of something very bad.

Her story is heartbreaking. She writes of receiving the news of her dad's murder, her feelings, her marriage a year later, the trial (two and a half years after the murder), beginning a teaching career, children, depression and anxiety, a return to church and salvation, spiritual growth and being confronted with the need to forgive and love her enemies.

Coombs is very honest about the process of forgiving her enemy, the man who murdered her dad. She could do it only through the strength of God. She takes us through the process of communication by letters and the ultimate healing.

There are many issues to think about in this book. Some include the Old Testament laws (e.g. for adultery and murder), grace, and degrees of sin. Perhaps the most important one is that God can truly create beauty out of ashes. It is amazing that God would use a tragedy in the past for ministry in the future.

This example from Coombs is a wonderful assurance that God does work all things for good for those who love Him. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a great testimony of God's power to forgive and heal.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read other reviews here.

Laurie Coombs was called to forgive the man who murdered her father. Her story has been featured in Billy Graham's new film, Heaven, a part of the “My Hope with Billy Graham” national broadcast. She is a regular writer for iBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com. She and her husband and their two daughters live in Nevada. You can find out more at http://lauriecoombs.org/.

Kregel Publications, 232 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse for the purpose of an independent and honest review.