Lindylou - Walking Through Womanhood

Forgive... You are not alone. Forgive yourself. Give yourself this freeing  gift! How do you hear that word? Releasing, condemning, sweet, burdened, stuck, free. What does it feel like? shameful, glorious, sorrowful, joyful, negative, positive. Who do you think of? a sin against you, a sin you committed, the blood of Jesus. Most people have been told they should forgive others, and may struggle with doing so. But usually when they understand the blood of Jesus paid the debt, how can you not release the injustice committed against you? We get this, so we work toward and try to do it in our life. Releasing people from owing us a debt. How often though do we not forgive ourselves? We berate ourselves over our failures, sins, missed opportunities, etc. It doesn't matter what "It" is.... We must learn that God can forgive us and not bring our sin up again through the power of Jesus' blood. His righteous blood is enough for our sin, more than enough!!! So

Is it just my life, or do you relate?  I roll out of bed and hit the ground running. Oh, where is that daytimer...hmm, I just remembered I forgot to pick it up last Tuesday when I received a call from Captain D's. I left my calender/scheduler/my life organizer on the bench of Captain D's. Why I bring stuff like that in a fast food restaurant -I never will know. You think after 15 years of parenting, and having three children I wouldn't think I might get to look through my scheduler while I swallow down a baked potatoe (Quayle spelling) and tea, and listen to my tween/teens graze through conversation as their chicken dinner disappears. But, yes, it is Sunday, and my scheduler hopefully is still behind the counter. Nothing to worry too much about it just had my original Social Security Card and some other papers I tucked away into it when I took my oldest a few weeks ago to his second failed attempt to get a driver's permit. (He thinks he can pass without studying...

Why do Church members not mature to be like Christ? I have just finished reading the most incredible book by the now very popular author among American seminaries, Dallas Willard. I picked up a copy of a book he wrote in 1986, The Spirit of The Disciplines (understanding how God changes lives). I loved learning how to implement spiritual disciplines to become more like Christ, and honestly, I have not yet started any live changes. Like all books, I feel the need to allow its teaching to simmer in my heart during quiet time with the Lord to determine what He would have me to do first. But I am writing about this because what I read in the last two pages of the book surprised me, in a good way, and for me at least, it made this book a classic that should be read by all disciples of Jesus Christ. What could possibly be so powerful, you may think? I will let Dallas Willard's words speak for himself: But there is a prevailing problem. The people of Christ have never lacked for a

We all have our issues. Consistency raises high on the list of mine. I've understood the importance of it, longed for the habit of it and implemented methods obtain it. But still, after 20 years of blundering around a life of "if", "when" and "not" consistency demands from me my full attention. Nature reminds us daily that we need to be consistent.  Yes, I have had many reasons for not being, and the reasons are very sound, realistic problems that had to be faced first. I am learning that I can not always conquer the largest or most obvious answer because a long line of little dominoes must be lifted prior to tackling consistency. Recently, I find myself finally able to make goals, and keep them for at least a few days at a time. Plus the down time is short before I am back on track again. I've been amazed at how powerful of thing consistency can be. I am marveled how others change in response to dealing with someone who is basically con

Every person must choose..... Two men , born into the Middle East about 600 years and 750 miles apart. Today, more than a millennium after their deaths, they each have millions of people following their teachings of how to know, obey and live for God. During the time of the first man, the Palestinian land (the land of the Philistines - remember David and Goliath) belonged to the Jews, given by God as their promise land shown to Moses and entered by Joshua, continuing during the the reign of King Saul in 1020 BC though the occupation and then governed of the Roman Empire in 73 BC. During the time of the later man, his followers through bloody attack conquest-ed the Palestinian land for Islamic Arabs in 638 AD. Jerusalem , with deep religious focus, became a holy city for both men's followers. One, being a Jew, visit Jerusalem yearly throughout his life and as an adult peacefully, entered the city on a donkey (a symbol of peace) to a crowd hailing Him with palm branches repe

A beautiful, cherry-wood prayer box rests on my dresser. I first purchased it as a mother's gift for my husband's mom a decade or more ago. When she died from cancer complications, it was one of the few things I desired from among her belongings. A faithful woman of prayer sits at the feet of God lifting up her petitions, even pleas,  portrays the impressionist painting on the lid. Opening the box to retrieve another treasure dear to my heart, a charm bracelet started by my child two Christmases ago. What a joyful reminder my children have bestowed on me to know their desire of their heart for me in each selected charm... a gift of what they think and remember. Clasping the bracelet my eyes caught site of the back of a little white business card with large letter pencil writing. Lifting it up to read and recall... an innocent child, troubled, hurting... my own sweet daughter deep in concern for her mom... prints a beautiful prayer of faith - one of those "unless we beco

Family Devotions challenge us to grow in perseverance, obedience and relationships. Maybe some perfect families somewhere enjoy a sweet hour of listening to the Word, sharing insights and worshipful prayer, but I don't personally know these families. Do you? Are you? I could fill an entire shelf with all the potential family devotional books. We have:  toddler time in the Word,  Children Bibles, Christian Bible Videos (Old & New Testament with workbooks), Young Inductive Bible studies, Teen Discipleships on topics of teen interest, Purity studies,  Bible on CD, 24 Steps for Every Family devotional, Family Time books,  Bible Memory Verse programs,  Drawing the Bible Study, Acting out the Bible Time, Sing Fun Christian Songs, Color the Hymns,  And that doesn't count all the books of godly missionaries, reformers, preachers, and martyrs. Regardless of how well prepared parents are or how age-appropriate and nicely packaged the study may be, Satan is working over

So many hurting are hiding, invisible to many. O K, I wrote this yesterday and chickened out with tons of doubts and removed it. Now that I realize I was listening to a lot of comments being sent my way by the enemy... I am putting it back up. "Oh, me of little faith!" If you are interested in helping organize a non-profit ministry for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and trauma, please contact me. So often the world sets up organizations to be there for hurting, but they don't have the real answers. I am hoping to set up a ministry that really make a permanent difference in hurting survivors lives. God is laying the vision of such a ministry on my heart, therefore, I am looking for a team of like-minded Christians to prayerfully lead. God uses each of our abilities and gifts for His ministry. If interested in more information, check out this document about Living Visible Ministries .  Lindy Abbott  lindylou.abbott@gmail.com