My Journey To Healing

Unique healing, restoration and freedom in living…these are the gifts that God has so graciously given me. As I learned to practice stillness with Him, God changed the course of my life. He healed my broken spirit by revealing His true character to me. Knowing Him enabled me to trust Him to guide me to the next step up the ladder out of my dark valley. He infused me with His strength, wisdom, direction, clarity and peace, which gave me the courage to keep climbing. In stillness, in my surrender to Him, He led me step by step into a life of freedom with Him.

From Ch. 1 Practicing Stillness with God

Blossoming out of the Valley

BE LOVE, GIVE LOVE

When you look at this picture I took, what do you see?  Most people would say a almost dead tree or a tree barely making it.  But what I see, is much different and much deeper.  First of all, I need to tell you that I just love nature, especially trees and spending time in nature is by far one of the most favorite things I do.  I get a stronger and deeper connection with God and receive so much joy while being in nature.  So back to the picture.  What I see is a very strong tree!!!  Even though a big storm stripped him of almost everything, he still had strong enough roots to carry him through, survive and become fruitful again.  So now let me ask you if a strong storm/trial came into your life and stripped you of almost everything you had, (death in the family or close friend,  bad health report from doctor, you lose your job, get cheated on, stolen from, tornado takes your house, bad car wreck, economic recession, etc) would you have strong enough spiritual roots in the Lord, Jesus Christ, to carry you through, survive and become fruitful again.  Think about it….

Luke 6:46-49    The Wise and Foolish Builders

⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

BE LOVE, GIVE LOVE

I felt lead to share this excerpt, from Blossoming out of the Valley, with you today.  I pray that it speaks to your heart.  It might be one of things that is keeping you or someone you know from truly finding  peace and stillness with God.  Enjoy!!

Are you too busy? When we are busy, we are certainly distracted. The very word busy feels like a curse. It evokes overwhelming, negative feelings in us because we have all experienced the chaos of busy. Being B-U-S-Y can be thought of as Being Under Satan’s Yolk. Under this influence, we typically neglect resting in God’s presence and are often distracted from what He is calling us to do. When I hear people say they are  too busy, I encourage them to seek God’s direction on how to structure their time. God calls us to be active servants, but He does not desire us to be so active that we feel chaotic and lose our joy. When we are living the lives that God has called us to, we may have much to accomplish, but it will be accompanied by peace, strength and a sense of purpose. Because of this, I encourage people to remove the word busy from their vocabulary and replace it with blessed instead. We are indeed blessed that God chooses us to be active participants in fulfilling His purposes in our lives and the lives of those around us.

If you feel lead to read more or to order your very own copy then click here ~~Read More~~ If you know someone that needs to hear this, then please share this with them.  Thank you Kindly!

BE LOVE, GIVE LOVE

An Excerpt from Blossoming out of the Valley

Chapter 1~Practicing Stillness with God

The exciting thing is that it only takes a small change of focus to practice stillness with God. Make a simple choice to take minutes, hours or even days to be still with God, presenting yourself just as you are. God is waiting for all His children to be still so He can speak wisdom and direction to them. He wants to bless you with love, joy, peace, comfort and healing. He wants to heal and restore you.

Author Max Lucado, in his book The Applause of Heaven, describes the blessings of practicing stillness with God like this:

Think about the people in your world. Can’t you tell the ones who have been to his mountain? Oh, their problems aren’t any different. And their challenges are just as severe. But there is a stubborn peace that enshrines them. A confidence that life isn’t toppled by unmet budgets or rerouted airplanes. A serenity that softens the corners of their lips. A contagious delight sparkling in their eyes. And in their hearts reigns a fortress like confidence that the valley can be endured, even enjoyed, because the mountain is only a decision away. Take a trip with the King to the mountain peak. It’s pristine, uncrowded, and on top of the world. Stubborn joy begins by breathing deep up there before you go crazy down here.¹

I couldn’t have said it better. I was going crazy down here, but God touched me in a moment of stillness and began to change me. He was there all along, but I had to be willing to go to Him to find the peace that I so desperately craved. When I chose to respond to God’s pursuit of me, I began to experience His powerful deliverance as He led me step by step out of my dark valley. With each step, I found greater peace and more freedom. However, what sustained this peaceful rest was my commitment to practicing stillness with God. I chose to stay focused on God for strength and direction, even as I got further and further away from the chaos of my dark valley.

To read more and to place your order CLICK HERE

BE LOVE, GIVE LOVE

~abby

~Excerpt from Blossoming out of the Valley~

As I learned to focus on God through His creation, He empowered me to start climbing one step at a time out of my dark valley of chaos. He spoke to my heart and said, “Come, seek me and you will find me. I will guide and direct you in the path that you should go, and you will heal naturally.” That is exactly what I did. I pressed in to God, did some intense climbing and made some life-changing decisions, but I did not do it alone. All of my strength, wisdom, direction, clarity and peace—everything that allowed me to keep climbing—came from being still with God and listening to His voice. God healed, restored and began to transform me into the person He designed me to be.

Email me to Reserve Your Book Today.  “Blossoming out of the Valley” is due to be released very soon.

BE LOVE, GIVE LOVE

Stillness:  Written by Abby Lewis 06/26/09 Published in the In Branson Etc., Summer Issue

Do you remember the art pictures that have all the dots and when you stare at the dots long enough a picture some how appears in the midst of the dots?  When I first looked at one of those pictures all I saw was dots and thought to myself how in the world could there be a picture, all I see is dots.  Then the person next to you says, “I see it, I see the sailboat.”  Then the thought crosses my mind, “there is no way there is a sailboat in the middle of this mess, all I see is dots.”  So I try harder and persevere because if he saw it, then I can see it.  After several minutes of trying I found myself getting frustrated, my eyes started to hurt and I wanted to give up.  I started believing that I would never see the sailboat.  I envied the person next to me because they saw it and I didn’t, and they were so joyful and happy because of it.  But in the weariness I just took in a deep breath, relaxed and just sat there awhile longer because I knew that I knew that I knew that there was a sailboat and I was determined to see it.  I stay focused and then out of no where, when I least expected it, the sailboat appeared in the midst of all the dots.  I was overtaken with joy because I finally saw the sailboat.  Each time I went back to that picture it became easier and easier to see the sailboat, to the point now, all I see is the sailboat I can’t even see the dots anymore.

So, are you focused on the dots in your life or the sailboat?  The dots represent the chaos.  The sailboat represent the peace in the midst of the chaos, you could call this God.  Maybe the dots are anxiety, constant worrying, anger, frustration, depression, judgment, control issues, sickness, relationship problems, bad circumstances, financial issues, negative attitudes, negative thoughts and words, death in the family, addictions, and the list could go on and on.  Maybe you are at the state where you don’t believe there can be peace in the middle of this mess.  You’re frustrated, depressed, and ready to give up because you can’t find the sailboat or maybe you don’t even believe that there is a sailboat to rescue you.  So how do you find the sailboat?

Let me share with you part of my journey.  A little over 8 years ago I experienced the lowest point of my life.  I found myself in a pit of hell suffering with intense panic attacks, addictions, control issues, hidden anger.  I was hearing voices, hallucinating, my marriage was falling apart, my face and left arm were going numb, I had acquired a lot of debt from my addictions and not one thought in my head or one word that came out of my mouth was peaceful.  My life was 0% peace.  I was losing everything.  I wanted to give up.  I became more and more frustrated with my circumstances.  I had no idea what I was going to do and I was terrified.  I desired peace so much but had no idea how to get it.  And one day while sitting outside in nature I stumbled onto something that changed my life forever, it is called Stillness.  I went outside seeking to just get away from it all and a ladybug landed on my arm.  I gazed upon it and for some reason stayed focused on it for quite awhile wondering why God created it.  I got lost in this little ladybug as I noticed the colors, the dots, the little legs, the wings and the way it felt on my arm as it walked around.  After about fifteen minutes or so, I felt a peace come over me that I had never felt before.  I remember saying to myself, “Oh my Gosh, I’m not anxious, what is this?”  That experience left me craving more and more of that peace.  So I went back every chance I could, seeking to find that peace again and every time I found it.  Healing took place within my spirit, my mind and my body with each experience.  I found my sailboat in the midst of all my dots.  God met me right where I was and rescued me.  Now I am aboard the sailboat.  I am happy to say that I never received medical help or professional counseling or any other sort of thing you would think to heal.  I healed completely naturally and became a whole person…spirit, mind & body, through the power of Stillness.

So let me ask you…are you suffering in some sort of way?  Is your life or your mind full of chaos?  I promise you, there is a sailboat ready to rescue you.  You just have to choose to be still long enough to find it.

Be Still & Know That I Am God…Psalm 46:10

Be Love & Give Love

Blossoming out of the Valley

The writing is complete and now on to the design, layout and print of my first healing book.  Just a few more months till it is finished and ready for purchase.  What a blessing!!

• To read the “Introduction~The Day I Turned to Face God”  click here> “Healing Book”

• Remember you can reserve your copy today to ensure that you get one out of the first shipment.  Just  send me a email by clicking here >“Contact Me”

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Day I Turned to Face God

Part 1: Spirit

1~Practicing Stillness with God

2~Accepting Responsibility

3~Surrendering

Part 2: Mind

4~Taking Thoughts and Words Captive

5~Making Balanced Decisions

6~Laying the Burdens Down

7~Practicing Gratitude

8~Removing the Mask

Part 3: Body

9~Taking Care of the Temple

10~Moving

11~Eating Life or Death

12~Breathing Well

13~Exploring Other Forms of Healing

Part 4: Free to Live

14~Living in the Moment

15~Setting Boundaries

16~Finding Balanced Simplicity

17~Living with Passion and Purpose

18~Be Love and Give Love

Recognizing God

Afterword

Appendices

Be Love & Give Love

Hi Everyone.  Yesterday Tim, Shia and I enrolled in Christian Healthcare Ministries.  What a wonderful and unique program this is.  We signed up yesterday and our first payment isn’t due until Mar. 1, 2011…first 2 months are free.  Just in time for off season.  I just wish I would have know about this before we got pregnant then we would have only had to pay $500 and the rest would have been covered by CHM.  I am so excited and pleased with our decision that I felt lead to share it with you in hopes that it can help you or someone else you know.

If you or someone you know are interested in saving significant dollars over traditional health insurance then this is an excellent option.  You can learn more about CHM by going to their web-site www.chministries.org.

Things I do know about CHM:  There is no registration fee, Accepted by doctors and hospitals nationwide, Enrollment by phone takes less than five minutes, Protection for accidental injuries begins immediately, Provision is made for most pre-existing conditions, CHM currently serves over 20,000 members in all 50 states, References are available upon request.

If you’d like detailed and personal information give my friend Dick Lupton a call or email him at RDL@chministries.org (1-800-791-6225 ext 5236)  he will be more than happy to assist you.  Please feel free to share this information to others.

Tis the season to BE LOVE & GIVE LOVE