Sweet Tea for Surrendered Sisters

Pat Layton, Christian Author and Speaker

2010-05-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Find me here!!!

Personal Web/Blog www.patlayton.net

or here:

"Freedom Weekend" Woman's Conference www.imaginemesetfree.com

or here:

Surrendering the Secret "Healing the Heartbreak of Abortion" www.surrenderingthesecret.com

Or Best of All.....Here!!!

Freedom!!

2010-02-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

Ladies,
We are all so pumped about this retreat as you can see.

I would love to see you there and will have a special treat for you if you tell me you came because of "Sweet Tea"!

Register at the the Mecklenburg website or to get more info on this fun FREEDOM WEEKEND at "Imagine Me...Set Free" check out my website.

I am so excited I can barely think straight, can barely think straight, can barely think straight!!!!

Could it be that You are meant to be there???

Is anyone crying??

2010-01-18T06:09:00.001-08:00

One of my new joys this year has been joining my firstborn Grandson for Christian Rock Concerts.

WhooHoo!!

I do love music and I love to be "actively involved" in worship. In other words, I like to jump up and down and lift my hands and Praise the Lord! I have not gotten too old to do it yet and I pray that I never do! The very fact that my GRANDSON wants to go with me makes me jump up and down!!

Our most recent adventure together was "Winter Jam" here in Tampa. We waited in line for over 3 hours along with over 2o,000 other people!! YES-- I said 20,000!!!!!

It was awesome! We saw Tenth Ave North, Newsong, News Boys, and my personal favorite, Third Day.

There were multiple opportunities available throughout the night to join one of the many world wide efforts that have been generated to respond to the tragedy and loss of lives in Haiti, including a Love Offering gathered from 20,000 GOD Loving, LIFE loving, COMPASSIONATE people.

There is barely a way to actually wrap your brain around such pain, loss and death as what we have watched unfold in Haiti.

We respond the way that Jesus told us to respond and by the example He set--we give, we act, we love, we cry.

When we look at children starving in the streets and the arms of trapped men and women stuffed between layers of concrete, we respond. Our hearts break, we sit in front of TV news and newspapers and cry.

We have Prayer vigils.

We park semi trailers in parking lots to gather clothes and food.

We give money.

We fight for the protection of the children and long to bring them into the safety of our homes.

Mostly...

WE PRAY!!

Every Life Matters and it should.

God said in Deuteronomy 30:19:

I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, CHOOSE life!!

Each time a horrific loss of life such as this one is placed before our eyes, people respond. People cry.

Most of the time.

Sometimes, not as much.

It occurred to me as I have prepared my post for this week, that each year as we approach another anniversary of the legalization of abortion in America, how often there is some National or World tragedy going on that makes me reflect even more deeply on the value of human life and how we as Christians respond so fervently to one tragedy but not so much another.

I just wonder why???

January 22, 2010 marks the 37th Anniversary of legalized abortion in America.

Conservative estimates project that in America, we ABORT in the neighborhood of 1,0000,000 babies every year.

That amounts to over 50,000,000 innocent babies have been AND CONTINUE TO BE DAILY--torn apart in the womb right here in America.

I'm just wondering...

Where are the "Love Offerings"?

Where are the Semi's?

Where is the National News?

Where is the Church??

That 55,000,000 equates to 110,000 Mommies and Daddies lost in a social lie, a multi-BILLION dollar industry, a political quagmire.

I read a quote by Francis Shaeffer that said, "There should be a sign in front of every abortion clinic that reads: Open by Permission of the Church".

How do you feel about it?

Do you feel that church is responding to the tragedy of abortion?

What does your Church do to address the horrific loss of life by abortion?

Do you acknowledge "Sanctity of Life Sunday"? (The first Sunday following the anniversary of Roe v Wade established as a response opportunity for the church by Focus on the Family and other national Christian voices)

Do you take up "Love Offerings" for Crisis Pregnancy Centers offering a Christian alternative to abortion?

How do YOU feel this tragedy compares to the horror that happened in Haiti in terms of our Christian responsibility?

I'm just pondering this morning.....

Is anyone crying over the innocent lives lost last year to abortion in America??

"Surrendering the Secret "is a Post Abortion Recovery Bible Study published by Lifeway in 2008. If you or someone you know is crying about a previous abortion, we want to help.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T16:42:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Happy New Year from our Home to Yours. We welcome in 2010 Giving Thanks for Family and Friends!

Ephesians 1:16 (New International Version)

16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Julie and Julia have nothing on me!

2009-12-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

One of the MANY Christmas movies my daughter and I have enjoyed over the past few weeks was "Julie and Julia".

I loved that movie on so many levels. I love to cook, love to eat, love to blog and love the complicated and painful world of book publishing.

ALL of those levels are emotionally and visually tapped in this movie.

The entire time that I watched it (all 4 times actually) I wished I had thought of what Julie thought to do. It was so clever and challenging and fun!

In any case, after getting the new Pioneer Woman Cookbook for Christmas, I have been pretending to be Julie (definitely NOT Julia). Don't worry, I won't be blogging through the whole cookbook although I WILL be cooking it through and through.

Tonight was "Chicken Pot Pie".

After announcing it on Facebook I was asked for the recipe so here goes (with my abbreviations included)

3 Celery Stalks

3 Chopped Carrots

1 Chopped Yellow Onion

1/2 Stick Butter

1/2 Cup Frozen Peas

2 Cups cooked Chicken (dark and white) cut into bite sized pieces (I used leftover Honey Baked Turkey)

1 Cup Flour

2 Cups Chicken Broth

1 Chicken Bullion Cube

1/4 Cup White Wine (optional)

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon salt

Pepper

(Kicker here....I perfect pie crust---Her recipe is in the book. I used refrigerator pie crust. NOT nearly as good)

Basically, mix all that together and pour into pie crust. Put another pie crust on top and seal.

Bake for 30 minutes in 400 degree oven.

Honestly, her wonderful step by step photos are what make this book so great. That PLUS her amazing stories about life on a ranch. I recommend the book highly.

Enjoy.

I will be doing this one again using her pie crust and fresh cooked chicken.

Merry Christmas "Sweet Tea" friends!

2009-12-22T07:20:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Come visit me at www.patlayton.net to get my "re-gift" for you!

Giving Thanks!

2009-11-25T07:58:00.001-08:00

This photo was sent to me my a dear friend...it says:

At the very moment you realize that all you have was never yours,

but by the full embrace of God's Grace,

You have discovered Thanksgiving!!

I could not figure out a way to say it better!

Thanksgiving Blessings!

ps...Visit me at my new website PatLayton.Net

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...I'm His! Eph1:1-14 Message

2009-10-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

My ride over the golden mountains.

Harvest!

My precious ride---through----the golden mountains.

The "cabin" in the woods that awaited us!

If you know me...you know how I felt about THIS table arrangement waiting in the cabin! Nobody planned this but God!! He knew I would need my sunflower reminder that it is not by might, not by power but BY HIS SPIRIT!!!

How great is our God! I have been sitting in His presence all morning, hearing His sweet voice and love for the women who are on the way here to Hidden Mountain Retreat. He planned this weekend for them before they were created in their mothers womb! Imagine That! I am so excited to be a part of it and so humbled by His amazing love and grace.

It is truly NEW every morning!!

Come and See!!

2009-10-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

What ministry or non profit do you support that literally rescues babies from death every day in Tampa Bay? So far this year close to 300 babies have been saved from abortion.

Would you like to see?

What ministry do you support that shares the saving love of Christ with thousands of women and their families every year?

Would you like to see?

What ministry do you support that insures loving Christian homes for those newborn babies rescued from death through adoption?

Would you like to see?

What ministry do you support that reaches thousands upon thousand of women and men all over the Nation with Biblical healing and restoration after they have bought the lie of abortion?

Would you like to see?

What ministry do you support that tells the truth about sex outside of marriage and risky relationships in every High School in Tampa Bay?

Would you like to see?

What ministry do you support that preserves and protects the sanctity of human life in a greater way than Life Impact Network?

Would you like to see?

By the Way...Grammy and Dove Award Winning Artist Rebecca St James will be there as well!

Come and See!

Will you show your support for this critical Christian alternative to abortion?

Come and See!!

November 5th Ala Carte Pavilion Tampa

The Life Impact Network Annual Light of Life Gala is just a little over 2 weeks away.

Please make your reservation today by clicking above. Life depends on it.

We need your support.

Sweet Tea has Left the Building!

2009-10-11T19:03:00.001-07:00

Hi Friends, Please come over and visit me at my Everyday Bouquet!

It's a brand new blog recently created by my talented first born son Tim, AKA "Remodeling Guy!"

I hope you like it! I love it!! Once I figure out "wordpress" I may actually REALLY love it!

In the meantime please stop by and say Hi!

www.patlayton.net

Sweet Tea will still be here when you come back, just reserved for my "Nesting" self...recipes, decorating, things like that that I hardly have time for! They deserve a special place don't ya think?

Follow Me to a Flower Garden!

2009-10-07T07:37:00.001-07:00

Good Morning!

How would you like to help plant a garden today??

One of my darling son's "Remodeling Guy" is creating a flower garden just for me.

We would love to have you visit today and be part of a Growing new Blog!

Give us your feedback! Watch it Grow! We have lots of surprises in store!

Follow me.............here

A Perfect Day!

2009-10-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

It is Funny what makes you count your blessings!!

I am soooo happy today!! I am in MY kitchen, at MY home, cooking a late breakfast that included this!!

Hot pumpkin bread with Williams-Sonoma Pecan Pumpkin Apple Butter!

I feel so blessed today. Peaceful. Content.

My college girl daughter is home for the weekend. I am cooking everything that she asked for, so we may have dinner more than once this weekend. Later today, I am babysitting my youngest G-Girl, Bella. She is only a year old! I love that! The rest of my family that is here in Tampa are going to see "Toy Story" in 3D (YUK--I get sea sick thinking about it). The others are healthy and happy creating things like this.... in the adorable town of Punta Gorda, Florida

I was out of town at speaking events 18 out of 30 days in September. Even though I could stay connected to my family by IPhone, Texts, Email, Facebook and now Twitter, I missed my HOME so much. I could not wait to cook!! Last night we had my famous Garbanzo Bean soup and Crispy Hot Cuban Bread with TONS of butter.

This is what I had for breakfast last Saturday! Not bad but not my home! It is, as you may have guessed, Texas style waffles served in the Fairfield Inn Lobby/Restaurant.

As I have been cooking and pulling out Fall decorations...It made me think.....

Just what does a "Perfect Day" look like???

The following comment came from the personal blog of Thomas Nelson CEO, Michael Hyatt, when he posted the details of what he considered to be a “Perfect Day” from his life.

“My experience was what Eugene O’Kelly calls a perfect moment.

I read O’Kelly’s book, Chasing Daylight, this past weekend on the recommendation of my dear friend (and coach) Dan Meub. It was, as they say, “a quick read.” I started it on a flight to Orlando and finished it before I got back. Few books have had such a profound impact on me in such a short time.

O’Kelly was the former CEO of KPMG, one of the largest accounting firms in the world. He had a great life, a wonderful marriage of 27 years, and two adoring daughters. He loved his job, and he loved his golf.

As with most CEOs, his life was very busy. Over the course of a decade, he had managed to have a weekday lunch with his wife just twice. His calendar was booked 18 months in advance. He routinely worked 12-15 hour days. Most of his waking moments were spent thinking about the future.

However, all of that came to screeching halt when suddenly, at age 53, he was diagnosed with late-stage brain cancer. His doctors soberly told him he had maybe three months to live. He quickly came to the conclusion that recovery was impossible. A miracle was unlikely.

Over the next 90 days, he determined that he would die well. In true CEO-fashion, he created goals for himself. He made a list of important relationships he wanted to “unwind.” By this he meant that he wanted to bring closure to those relationships and communicate how much each person had meant to him. He also learned to meditate. And, most importantly, he tried to create as many “perfect moments” as he could.

According to O’Kelly, a perfect moment is an experience with others when time stands still. It is a time full of the present, when the past is left behind and the future is set aside. It is a special time of focused attention and heightened awareness. Interruptions and distractions are consciously excluded. Cell phones are off. Hearts are wide open. All that matters is this moment—the people I am with and the conversation we are having now.

What does your "Perfect Day" like???? I would love to know.

I WILL be back to Blog world this weekend as I am writing a new Bible Study I want to tell you about and recruit your help with!

Seize the Day friends!!

Fresh Word Friday!

2009-09-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

Do you want to be SET FREE???

Hook on to today's Fresh Word: Glory!!!

Glory:

–noun

1.	very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown: to win glory on the field of battle.

2.	something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; a distinguished ornament or an object of pride: a sonnet that is one of the glories of English poetry.

3.	adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving: Give glory to God.

4.	resplendent beauty or magnificence: the glory of autumn.

5.	a state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity.

6.	a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment, etc.: She was in her glory when her horse won the Derby.

7.	the splendor and bliss of heaven; heaven.

a ring, circle, or surrounding radiance of light represented about the head or the whole figure of a sacred person, as Christ or a saint; a halo, nimbus, or aureole.

Glory is one of my favorite words. It just makes me smile to hear it, see it, read it, experience it!!

So many of the words used in this definition would qualify for it's own Friday. Words like: Honor, Praise, Splendor, Magnificence!

I just met a couple of precious young women last weekend who sponsor a conference for small groups of women called Glory Quest!! (Quest is another great word isn't it) As they described the weekend journey that they lead women through, my heart was in my throat. Seeing women encounter the Glory of God and embrace His Redemptive healing, restoration and destiny is one of the greatest pleasures of my life.

When I did a Bible search for the word Glory, I got 282 results. Reading each one does a big thing in my heart.

Exodus 15:11
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

Try it and just see if you can stay discouraged, sad, depressed, confused, weak, afraid, insecure, unsure.

I am sitting in the Tampa Airport as I write this post, heading across the big blue Gulf of Mexico to Houston,Tx. I can't wait to see the sky today from a little closer to heaven. That in itself is a miracle for me. I have always hated to fly. In fact, it was one of 2 things I told God (LOL!) that I would not do when He called me into ministry. Fly and and speak in front of people!!! I have struggled so much with flying over the past 2 years, sometimes to the point of tears running down my cheeks as I look out the window of an airplane. I, along with a lot of precious family and friends, have asked God to cure my airsickness and resulting silent freak outs.

He has said YES!!!

Over the past few months I have discovered more and more peace in the air. God is good! He is able. He is Holy and Personal!! One of the results of His saying Yes to this is that I get to ENJOY flying!! I actually love to look about the airplane window and see the clouds and the mountains from the air. To see rainbows in the sky and sunsets drop through layers of color. A few flights ago, God showed me a field of Sunflowers!!

His Glory is tangible and visible and real!!!

What is there without Him??

Gotta go get on an airplane now and see His Glory from the sky!!

Now WHERE is my Cowgirl Hat???

2009-09-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

This wandering woman is packin' again!

Not guns mind you...I have enough trouble as it is getting through security!

I am heading off to Texas for more "Surrendering the Secret" Blessings.

2 Certified Leader Training's and 2 Church speaking opportunities.

I have only been home for a few days from the country music capital of the US where pickin' and playin' are going on 24/7/365!

They even have singing guitar players entertaining travelers at the Nashville International (Ya know the one that goes from Florida to Tennessee with no stops!) Airport Grille.

No doubt these are yet to be discovered stars of tomorrow! (The one above is mine!)

They even had a bit of Grandma Karioke (No spell check available!)!

It made me cry to watch a very sweet old lady sing "Can I have this dance for the rest of my life?" while her elderly husband ate his french fires without looking up.

Made me miss my honey all the more!

I still have Brad Paisely playing over and over in my head. "I thought I luvvvved ya then...."!!

My week, however, has been more like what is found under the boot than in it. Just a tad few challenges and rough riding. Oh well, "Some days are Diamonds and some Days are Stones" Yall.

Anyways...

If you are interested in a sweet night out with your boot scootin honey, shuffle on over to my facebook page for a chance to put on your high heels and get a babysitter.

It's right here.................

We have a few seats left!!

Winning tip! It's not country but its' music!!

Can you be "Austere" a little nicer please, you are hurting my feelings!

2009-09-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Good Morning World! Yes, I know, it is waayyy into the morning in many places. I am bit bit slow this morning but Hello Fresh Word Friday.

The word for today is AUSTERE!!! WhoooHooo!

Austere:
–adjective
1. severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding: an austere teacher.
2. rigorously self-disciplined and severely moral; ascetic; abstinent: the austere quality of life in the convent.
3. grave; sober; solemn; serious: an austere manner.
4. without excess, luxury, or ease; simple; limited; severe: an austere life.
5. severely simple; without ornament: austere writing.
6. lacking softness; hard: an austere bed of straw.
7. rough to the taste; sour or harsh in flavor.

I am sitting in front of a waterfall that is located inside of a building under a sky clear dome. Not exactly the mountains but a nice sound and a pretty garden. It is raining over the dome but no rain on my balcony. Oh the magic of an amazing architect.

I am presenting "Surrendering the Secret" at the American Association of Christian Counselors in Nashville, Tenn which is located in the Opreyland Hotel. There is a definite style statement in this place and it involves boots, hats and things that sparkle! Even for those who are here from Miami!! It is fun to watch a convertible tan in cowgirl boots!

My "Prayer Chair" today is a 3 piece wrought iron balcony set, one chair providing a stool for my still tired feet, the other my tired, well...you know, and the little table for my coffee, Bible and notebook. It is a nice little spot don't you think?

I am in Matthew Chapter 3 of the Message. You ladies may be WAYYY past me now since I have not had much time to collect my thoughts, much less sit and write them in days. The difference between a prayer journal and a laptop is the need for a somewhat "insightful" blog post verses a bunch of words on a page that no one else will see.

Oh well, maybe it is not THAT different, so here goes....

I was actually cracking up laughing on my balcony this morning as I read this chapter.

The first few words of Matthew Chapter 3 tell us that John, called "The Baptizer" was preaching in the Judean desert announcing the passion of his heart---

"Change Your lives People!!! God is Watching".

The word goes on to say that John's showing up had been predicted long before he started preaching in his oh so needy wardrobe (He would have stood out like a sore thumb at the Opreyland Hotel!).

John had been referred to as "Thunder in the desert"! I can sometimes relate but honestly, to think of John as a preacher today would make some snake skin crawl!

As scripture clearly shows in this Chapter, John did come and he did create some THUNDER!!

He was preaching his heart out by the side of a lake, when some people showed up that he perceived as false and hypocritical. I have had those feeling before and just tried to ignore them. But not John, he just called a Snake a Snake and no pretty words are anywhere to be found.

I am absolutely certain than even though I have felt these things, even within the past few days, I would never have the courage to speak them out, nor would any editor I have ever worked with, allow them to show up on the published page!

These are John's "nice Christian words"......in fact my Bible says "He Exploded"!!

He called them a Brood of Snakes!

The people who came to his Bible Study!!

Can you imagine!!

The people who were presenting themselves as Christians but were really just trying to be popular, or follow the crowd, or check out the action, or BE in the action!! These folks would do anything, say anything or be anything just to get SOMETHING.

"What do you think SLITHERING down here to the River, the Church! The Holy Place of Surrender!" were his words of greeting.

John's final AUSTERE word was....

What counts is your LIFE, is it green and blossoming???

Be certain that all that you are pursing is KINGDOM LIFE!!!

When you do, God Himself will IGNITE a fire in you that no man or woman can put out, it will burn no matter who is around, who sees you, who approves or who joins you!

That is how you know it is God!

I leave this chapter, for now, with many things on my heart.

If I had walked into John's crowd, today, would I be in that group in ANY way???

Would any part of my focus, my heart or my life be able to be grouped with "The Snakes"???

Would I be more interested in

the Surroundings or the Saviour?

Men or the Master?

Tickled ears and a fun day at the lake or Truth?

Secondly, are the words of my life, my teaching and my ministry....SIMPLE and when they need to be...

can I be AUSTERE when it is called for??? Or does popularity, Christianese, fitting in, being liked, being accepted....trump that truth?

"Austere", a word to ponder don't you think??

In the Right Place, At the Right Time!

2009-09-14T04:43:00.000-07:00

Matthew Chapter 2, "The Message"

The very first time that I found myself "In the Right Place, At the Right Time" was on June 9, 1984.

That was the day that I surrendered my life to Christ and started my "pilgrimage to worship Him".

I was at a ladies retreat for a church that I had been attending kind of "in secret". I had actually been hiding out in the children's Sunday School classes of that church for a few months since I was afraid to step into "big church".

My life to that point had shown little reason that I should not be struck by a very big lightning bolt should I step my feet upon that Holy ground. So, I hid, amongst the children with my 2 young sons. I hung out in the nursery every Sunday using the pretense that my youngest son was too afraid to be without me. The truth was, I was too afraid to be without him.

Before I knew it I was being asked to teach a 5th Grade Sunday School class!! Churches can get very desperate for teachers in the children's area.

Yep, me, a messed up fallen young woman with no knowledge of the Bible .

Does it make you want to request the resumee' of your child's Sunday school teacher? I said yes just so I could stay under cover. After all, how hard could it be? I took the assignment very seriously however and studied my lessons as if I were pursing a Graduate Degree! I used a big giant child's Bible that had been given to me when I was a baby to study from. It was the only Bible I owned.

Guess what, God shows Himself to us in ways, times and places that we least expect, if He needs to. Whatever it takes to get our attention. Bushes on fire, whale guts, ocean storms, snakes and rods and worms!

All we have to do is head in the right direction, or the wrong direction.

He will help us to find him.

He is ALWAYS, in the right place, at the right time.

Always has been.

I love those words at the end of paragraph one (aka verse 2):

"We're on pilgrimage to worship Him".

The great scholars from the East that we read about in Matthew Chapter 2 discovered this truth centuries ago.

I discovered it 25 years ago.

Have you discovered it?

When we do, it changes everything.

It changes our response.

It changes our direction.

It changes our friends.

It changes our perspective of what to do next.

It changes our lives from that very millisecond for all of eternity.

My life has never been the same since that unexpected day that I discovered my Jesus. I was in the right place at the right time.

Praise His Holy Name.

Speaking of RIGHT PLACES-RIGHT TIMES..check out this rainbow from yesterday!!

We enjoyed this beauty as we crossed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge yesterday. Have you ever seen the END of a Rainbow?

Then, it got better and Doubled our Delight!

How about you? I would love to hear your "right time, right place" story!!

Fresh Word Friday--On Saturday!

2009-09-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

I said I would keep my promises, I did NOT say, I would always be on time!

No woman in her right mind would promise that!

I spent my day yesterday going from an early morning AMAZING conference keynote speech to running to catch the "Super Shuttle to BWI Airport, to waiting in line for over an hour to get through security...it was 9/11 after all! God has truly worked miracles in my life in the area of flying! I arrived home at around 5pm, went to dinner with my honey then came home and crashed in front of a movie with him!

Stay with me this week for secrets about a new movie coming out this Fall that I got a "hot off the press" copy of to watch in my pajamas!

So....Fresh Word Friday is here on Saturday but is VERY FRESH non-the-less.

The Word on my heart is GRACE!!!!! A yummy word if I must say so myself!

God's Word has so much to say on this topic I could not even begin to do it justice in a quick blog post but here are just a few:

Luke 2:4

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

John 1:1

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:16

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:24
We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:2
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

OK....one more......

2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always LOVE and NEED this word in my life. However, the word "Grace" has been jumping around in my heart like fresh popped popcorn since yesterday morning after listening to the stirring keynote speech of Author David Kinnaman. (David is the guy in the black shirt in the middle/ my son Andy is listening intently on the right side of the photo beside the woman in the white jacket)

I had the great privilege of sitting in a small group with David's Dad, Gary, just last month. I can easily the see that the passion apple does not fall far from the tree in this family.

David is a brilliant young man, just barely into his 30's and is President of the Barna Group. His book "Unchristian" (Baker Books; 2007) is a study of the thoughts and perspectives of the new generation regarding their faith verses the faith of their parents and grandparents.

I have always been interested in this topic and read the book soon after it released. I enjoyed it then but hearing David deliver the valuable information about what it will take for this generation to influence then next generation for Christ was nothing less than captivating.

Here a some of the words The Barna Group has found that young Christians use to define "Older" Christians:

Pretentious

Judgmental

Hypocritical

Out of Touch

Anti Sinner

Too Political

Insincere

Can you say OOOUUUCCCH!!!!

As I listened to David the light-bulbs going off in my head could have been bright enough to light up that baseball thingy stadium behind the hotel!

I think it is called "Camden Yards"---Home of the Baltimore Orioles

I have had a few discussions with some young Christian Authors and Speakers over the past few months about this very topic as I have made some surprising observations about the response of young women to my speaking engagements over the past 2 years. I had felt that they were drawn to me for some reasons that I have been mystified by. David spoke some words yesterday that I have actually spoken myself as I have mentally chewed on this topic.

David classified the current young adult generation as the "Grace Generation"! I just about fell off my chair as I have used those exact words! I LOVE it when God confirms something in my heart that I have felt He was showing me!

I could truly go on and on about this important truth from so many key directions but this is a POST, not a speech or a book (It is long enough as it is)!!

I want to restate 6 points that David made that we all MUST CONSIDER with regards to our young adult children, grand children and teen outreach ministries. This is something that I do every day as the leader of a crisis pregnancy center and that we all do in some fashion or another!!

These points are critical as we attempt to present BIBLICAL social values, truths and challenges to the next generation.

1) LISTEN to them!!!!

They want to be heard. They need to be heard. We can not just TELL young people what to believe, we must listen to what THEY believe so that we can then....

2) Earn the right to be heard!

We can not just blast off our political, social and spiritual opinions or even facts, without earning the right to be heard by these young adults.

They need to know we care before they care what we think.

3) Be Transparent!!!

I think this might be why young women who come to my keynotes and events seem to be drawn to me. I tell them the truth about my past mess-ups!! So often women in Christian leadership tell me of a past abortion (or abortions) but tell me they just can not bring themselves to tell their children, or their Bible study classes or anyone for that matter. They are still being held back by the old ways of keeping your dirty laundry in laundry room. My response is that we have to tell so that our daughters and our granddaughters the truth about our personal failures and the Grace of God so that they do not BUY THE SAME LIEs that we bought!!! So that they do not fall into the same traps!

That is just my opinion but research appears to agree so don't get mad at me!!

Every woman I know who has shared her abortion story with her children and family has found them to completely embrace her in love and offer her GRACE!! That is how they are!

4) Allow them to participate and offer input and leadership into your ministry!

We must be passing the torch of our faith to the next Generation but be willing to sometimes do it their way!! We need to engage, equip and enlist the next generation! (Another process I am walking out every day, PTL!!!)

5) Involve their peers.

This generation listens to their peers!! They turn to them for advice. They confide in them. They follow one anothers lead. Involve the peers of your children in your life, your ministry direction and your plans!

6) Pray, Pray, Pray!!!

David's speech reminded me that I must pray MORE!! Pray for the next generation of Christians. Pray for my college daughter's friends, the Christian environment that she is immersed in and PRAY that she and her peers will embrace faith!! Their way!

It is the day of the "Grace Generation".

Somehow, I think God knows about them!!

Matthew Chapter 1

2009-09-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Blessings from Baltimore! I have just slipped into my room for a HIDEOUT moment and to say Hi to you! Talk about "Sweet Tea Pressure"

I was blessed and thrilled at the sweet response to my casual appeal to "Re-Think" Life with me. And I just make a public statement about PROMISES!! So I HAD to at least make day 2 :)!!

I love Matthew Chapter 1 for so many reasons.

I just this morning was chatting with a sweet friend who is here with me about my difficult sleeping. Her words just inspired the heck out of me they were something like this:

"It's an AGE thing"!!! Yooo Hooo!

Then she said, whenever I can't sleep, I read the Book of Kings! It puts me to sleep every time!

mmmm......I am not sure that is OK to say! Is it girls???

Anyway, It made me think of my choice of words for the day from Matthew Chapter 1.

First off, in my version of the Message, the intro pages to Matthew say these cool words:

"Every day we wake up in the middle of something that is already going on, that has been going on for a long time: genealogy and geology; history and culture; the cosmos--GOD! We are neither accidental nor incidental to the story."

I love that! EVERY LIFE MATTERS!!! Every single life!!

I used to think the first part of Matthew was kind of like was SLEEP promoting medicine. However, as I have gotten OLDER, I have come to see a new beauty in the first 17 verses of this book.

God is so detailed and cares so much about every single person that He took the time to clearly lay out this generational path for us to be able to see and recognize the heritage of Jesus. Now that I have had a few years in God's Word, I am able to look and see the names of many precious men and women of the Bible whose stories have changed my life. People who lived so very long ago who matter to me today.

People like:

Isaac and Jacob

Boaz and Ruth

David

Solomon, and so on.

Each one of these people mattered to ME! Patricia K Layton living and serving God here on this planet in 2009!

God's Kingdom plan. Each one of us matters as our names are being added to God's family tree and each of our family members matter.

Let in sink in! List them out. Think about it!

"Fulfilled" is one of the leading verbs used in Matthew. Everything is connected to the soon coming arrival of our Lord and Saviour. Everything and everyone has a position and a place.

We NEED To HEAR IT!!!!

Which leads to my other favorite part of Matt 1.

Mary.

This is where we first hear about the teenage pregnancy that changed the world for eternity. We are introduced to the Mother of all Mothers who started out in what could be nothing but fear, shame, disgrace, a whole bunch of "Yea RIGHT's---You expect us to believe THAT!!!"

Matthew Chapter One matters to me.

In my prayer journal I might write--

How obedient am I to the voice of God when it is hard? When others won't understand? When I have NO IDEA how it might go for me to obey?

Better yet, how good have I been lately at HEARING God? Listening to God's voice?

All these people are listed here on this eternal family tree because they matter to God.

We matter to God and our obedience and response to His voice determines our destiny!

OK, it's your turn girls!!! What did you find in Matthew One?

Want to Re-Think Life With me at "Sweet Tea"?

2009-09-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

I have kept a personal prayer journal for 25 years. I usually purchase a small 9X12 spiral notebook, write the date on the front when I start, then write the date on the front when I end. On average it has taken me 2-3 journals each year, that is close to 75 Journals of prayers and struggles and praises lifted up to God that I have stuffed into a box.

I have always wondered what do I really want to do with those things? They contain some pretty messy growth. Some of my ugliest, most selfish and broken character revelation lies within those pages. Yet, somehow, I can not bear to destroy them. They are real. They reflect who I have really been, who I really am, but most of all they reflect WHO GOD IS to me!!

His Grace. His Mercy. His Patience. His Abundant Provision!!

I also record what God says to me through His Word in my journals. That part is very cool to look back on. So, I was wondering if anyone might want to join me in my journaling?

Over the last couple of years I have felt less and less inclined to "journal" in the same way that I used to. I feel that God has taken me into some new places and ways to record my journey. Blogging is one of those ways.

I have some blogging friends that I adore, who are so clean and polished on their blogs. They never mis-spell anything. Their grammar is always accurate and their sentence structure correct. Some of them use big words and deep concepts. I love to read their blogs and I want my blog to be like theirs when it grows up. However, that may take 25 years! So, in the meantime, it is what it is!

For now, my blog is like me, messy, but I just love to do this. I love to sit here and think about the person that I love so much who might be reading my post today. Those who have told me they read every day. They never comment but they read. Those who email me or send me a note on Facebook. I treasure every single person who takes the time to visit "Sweet Tea" and listen to what God puts on my heart to share for the day. I care so much about what He puts on your heart as well.

I am reading through the "Message" version of the New Testament and Psalms. It is so rich with words and mental images that I just have to share my quiet time with someone besides my spiral notebook!!

So here goes. As often as I can, I am going to pick up my laptop and bring it with me to my prayer chair. For better or for worse, you will get what comes to me from God's Word, as I get it! (Why do I feel right now, like I feel when I am taking off in an airplane. A bit dizzy and lightheaded?)

Over the past 2 weeks I have read up to Matthew Chapter 9 but I want to give you some time to catch up. All I am going to do here on the blog is say a word or two about the things I have highlighted. If you would like to read along with me, get you a "Message" Bible, a pen and a highlighter. I also recommend that you get yourself a JOURNAL. Record what God tells you each day through His Word. Remember, it is ALIVE! It applies to your life today! Which leads me to my first "Highlight".

In the Introduction on page 9 of my version, Eugene Peterson says that as God's Word was revealed to the world through Jesus that one by one, men and women had to begin to RE-THINK, RE-IMAGINE, RE-CENTER, all that they did in life with the understanding that Jesus is Lord and that God calls all the shots!

Wow! Isn't that true! I remember when I first invited Christ into my Life. It was a very big mess and I had some bad mistakes to lay on the alter. Some of them took some time to bring. They just seemed too big, even for God. As I began to see the world with the new understanding that God knew me inside and out, He knew all the bad choices I had made and He still loved me and wanted my heart- PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, I began to

Re-Think

Re-Center

Re-Imagine

The Bible is filled with personal letters, eyewitness, stories, poems and teaching. From the first day that I held one in my hands I have considered it Holy, Precious, 100% True and for lack of a better word, MAGIC!

The Word of God changes lives. It has changed mine.

Let me know if you want to walk the pages with me!

The "Mommy Line"

2009-09-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

Last week one of the many things that I had to fit into my schedule was a Dr's appointment. Routine but necessary. Those things are always such an interference with my schedule to begin with but somehow the only time I could fit this one is was on my Anniversary for goodness sakes. What was I thinking?? I must have forgotten that I would need to be out getting my honey and Anniversary gift!! Yep, I am a major last minute gift buyer!

As I was sitting in the waiting room making a list of Honey gift possibilities that could be captured from within 10 miles, a young pregnant Mama moseyed in with her little boy.

I noticed them immediately since he was screaming from the bottom of his lungs and hanging from her hand as she dragged him behind her into the office waiting area, which, by the way, was PACKED with other waiters like me.

This little boy was between one and two years old. I know because I have a 1 year old G-girl and a 2 year old G-Boy, both who belong to the same son and his lovely young wife.

The little boy hanging from the woman was crying so hard that his little face was sopping wet with tears that were mixing in with the liquid coming from his nose. The intensity of his distress was obvious to everyone in the room, except, one would think, his mother.

The young mommy, who was very pregnant with the promise of another little one in the near future, had apparently used her last nerve and appeared to be shut down to all life.

She literally looked to be in a comatose trance.

She would occasionally speak down at the child to "be still" or "be quiet" but very clearly did not expect him to obey.

I continued to sit in my chair with my face towards my list but my heart was squeezing on behalf of both the boy and the Mom. I wanted with all that is within me to go over and offer my help but that young Mom had a protective shield around her that was so strong I could practically see it with me eyes.

She was in no mood for an interfering stranger who thought she could prance up to the rescue and make it all better.

As I watched this scene from the top of my head, I though of the term "drawing a line in the sand".

You know, when someone gets so angry with another person that they "draw a line" that says "if you step over this you die!"

The little boy continued to scream and the Mommy continued to ignore him as one by one the waiting room began to clear.

My name was finally called but my heart stayed with the Mommy and the little boy. I thought about my days as a young Mom when I might have just run out of all that was left in me to "train up a child in the way he/she should go". When I was just flat worn out and had nothing left to give. I thought of my precious Daughters in Love and the amazing job they are both doing with our Grandchildren. I thought about the youngest, Bethany, who has 2 little babies and how often she could get to the point with 3 children ages 5 and under, of shutting down. I thought about how grateful I am to be there for her. Hopefully to provide for her to go to her own Dr alone as much as possible.

I pray for that Dr.'s office Mommy and all the Mommies who have used up their last nerve and had to draw the invisible Mommy line between them and their babies or them and someone who might could help.

I have begun to think on some of the things that a worn out Mommy can do to make it to the next minute, the next hour, the next day.

Things like:

1) Call Someone! Ask for Help! If you feel that you have reached your limit and might endanger the well being--physical, mental or spiritual--of yourself or your child---Ask for help! Even if it is from a strange woman in a Dr.'s office.

2) Be sure to find some time for yourself. Try to set aside a regular time that belongs to you. Maybe it can only be once a month but you need time to get restored and rested in order to give all that you have to give to your children.

3) Connect with other Mom's who are going through the same Mommy stage that you are. There are lots of churches, pregnancy resource centers, community organizations, libraries, that have opportunities for Mom's to connect. Find some.

4) Stop, Drop and Pray. God knows your heart, your needs, your feelings of hopelessness when it all gets to be more than you can cope with. He cares. You will be amazed at how he will answer.

How about you Young Mom's? Do you have any other ideas?? I know of at least 2 who are reading this Blog who could use a good idea or 2!!

There is a story in the Bible where Jesus drew a line once, in the sand, for a woman. It was a woman who had been brought before an entire crowd and exposed. I don't imagine the Mommy who sat in the middle of that crowded Dr's office last week felt a whole lot better about herself and the stares from the crowd that was judging her than this woman did. Opinions about how she may or may not have handled her weeping child probably made her feel just about the same shame as the woman who was thrown in front of Jesus.

Every time I think of that Bible story, I always wonder if it might have been an arrow that Jesus drew in the sand that day. An arrow that was pointing to someone else in the crowd who could have been brought up for charges that day.

Any of us who has been a Mom, especially during the early years, has faced discouragement and fatigue and the feeling that we have no idea what to do and even if we did we have no energy to do it!

The bottom line is that the line in the sand that Jesus drew pointed the woman to forgiveness, hope and freedom! He has the same message for all the young Mommies out there who feel the need to Draw a Mommy Line!

Fresh Word Friday

2009-09-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

The "Fresh Word" that I have for the day is "Promise".

I have been convicted lately, although not intentionally nor directly, by a watching a few sweet friends, about keeping "Promises".

My friend Melinda @ "Traveling the Road Home" PROMISED in January of this year to post a weekly devotional directed towards the Sanctity of Human Life and our Christian call to prayer for the unborn and the men and women who buy the lie of abortion. She has faithfully provided for our prayer direction EVERY MONDAY for the past 8 plus months.

I have been in a car with Melinda on our way back from a trip from North Carolina to Tampa. We were both tired, talked out and ready to be home in our beds. Melinda, however had a PROMISE to post a weekly devotional and she was going to keep it. She worked on her post off and on all day during our road trip that Sunday then completed it in the we hours of the morning on Monday in time to keep her promise.

Honestly, I probably would have skipped that week rationalizing that it would not be "the end of the world" to miss just one post and anyway, who would really care? Of course Melinda's blog has a good bit more traffic than mine but still...

My friend, Lysa Terkeurst, at Proverbs 31 Ministries, has promised herself to change her eating habits and work towards a healthier lifestyle. I have done that a BILLION times. I saw Lysa this summer and she looks great! She kept her promise to herself!

There are quite a few others that I have watched lately who have re stirred this word in my heart.

It is not that I am not a "Committed" person. I have been with the same man for 33 years, led the same ministry for 22 years, attended the same church for 16 years, ect, ect, ect. I have had "Sweet Tea" for over a year now. It is just that within the parameters of my life I find lots of room for CHANGES to be made.

Perhaps, too much room.

I admit, sometimes I struggle with keeping my promises.

This is the definition of "Promise"

1.	a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one: un kept political promises.

2.	an express assurance on which expectation is to be based:promises that an enemy will not win.

3.	something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected.

4.	indication of future excellence or achievement: a writer who shows promise.

5.	something that is promised.

There are a few reason that I have concluded that might make me feel FREE to break a promise:

1) Underlying lack of Self Worth.

Like, I might say I would meet some girlfriends for lunch but just got too busy. In my mind, I think, "it won't matter that much, others are going to be there, or she will be glad to be freed up, or, we will do it another time, no big deal".

Broken Promise

2) Poor Time Management.

I have so many GOOD intentions that sometimes I can't do them all. When I said I was going to that event I REALLY WANTED to go, I just had other, more important things come along unexpectedly.

Broken Promise

3) Impulsive Promises.

I don't take the time to really think and plan before I say I will do something. Can I afford it? Do I really have time? Have I checked with Honey? Have I already promised something else for this time slot?

Broken Promise

For more than a few months now, I have spent my devotional time studying Psalms 139. One of the last verses of the Psalm say "Search my heart Lord and see if there is any wicked way in me". Talk about a risky prayer!!!

The biggest reason that I want to get better at this is that I desire for every single part of my life to Glorify God and reflect His character.

God has a more than a few things to say about making PROMISES. Here are a couple of them.

Matthew 5:37

Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

James 5:11

Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

Oh my! That is more motivation than Melinda or Lysa put together!

I have been down this road before but PTL..God is not finished with me yet.

How about you? Are you good at keeping promises?

A while back, I promised to post a "Fresh Word" on Fridays.

Here is my last post on "Fresh Word Friday".

As you can see, I have not kept my promise for a "Fresh Word on Friday". So, if my sweet friends can do it, I can do it!!

Regardless of who cares.

Regardless of other things that come up.

I PROMISE myself, in front of a few friends, to keep this PROMISE for recording a "Fresh Word".

Calling All Baltimore Blogging Buddies

2009-09-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

Ohhhh-ohhhh-ohhhhh!

I just can't seem to catch up this week!

Can I get a witness? Is this true for anyone else or just me??

I returned on Sunday morning....pre-dawn--from an amazing time with the Lifeway Women's Ministry Team speaking at "Fully Loaded" (Greetings new blogging sisters!!) followed by the Living Proof Live Simulcast.

It was TOTALLY AWESOME!!!

(Can I say that at my age??)

(I guess I can since I just did!)

(I guess really...ONLY my age would say that!)

Anyway, there is a great video of the event posted on the Living Proof Ministries Blog Site.

Here are a few of my quick shots!

Beth is always so fun and so FULL of fresh Word.

This one has got to be worth some money!

I have spent the past 3 days just catching up on life...laundry, dust, emails, meetings, saying Hello to my honey, kids and G's!

Today, I am writing!

I have a new book/project going on and have TON"s of sticky notes and little sheets of paper that I have written on as God has expanded my vision. I am taking all of that paper today and attempting to makes heads or tails of His big ideas!

In the meantime...I was wondering......

Do I have any BLOG Friends in the Baltimore area???

I will be there next week at the Carenet Conference and would love to meet a Blog Friend if one is around.

Just wondering.

If it is you and you have come for "Sweet Tea". Please Facebook, Twitter, Email or Blog me!

I am at my computer ALL Day and would love to meet you.

Foolish Freedom

2009-08-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome New Friends!

I am so excited to know that I have some new guests for "Sweet Tea" today.

Some of you have stopped by for a visit after our meeting yesterday in Green Bay, Wisconsin at Lifeway's Fully Loaded.

Others of you have stopped by after visiting the Proverbs 31 Ministries Daily Devotion. I feel very honored to have you and look forward to getting to know you. If you will leave a comment I will stop by and see you over the next few days!

We had such a RIDE yesterday here in Green Bay. God showed up for us didn't he ladies!?

The thing that struck me most yesterday was the deep pain and struggles represented in my workshop within the hearts and lives of so many ministry leaders. My topic is "Ministry to Women in Crisis". Over half of my group were Women's Ministry Leaders! One by one, at break, at lunch, at dinner, in the ladies room and last night by email, their stories come.

My prayers flowed last night along with my tears of gratitude.

I am not new to ministry to women in crisis. With the help of my amazing husband and many dear friends, I started a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Tampa, Florida over 20 years ago. When we opened the doors what I expected was to help young women who were facing unplanned pregnancies to find hope and help that would enable them to choose life. What came in the door was abuse, divorce, poverty, sickness and disease, rejection, homelessness, hopelessness and heartbreak. I remember in those days crumbling before the Lord in my fear and panic.

What can I do for these people Lord? I have no idea what to say.

God gave me many Words over those early days and continues to lead me through His Word every day.

Last night as I considered the new territory that He has placed me into, I recalled some of those words.

2 of those reminded me of the FREEDOM in ministry that He has promised to people like me and probably you, who wonder...

Why in the world Lord, have you chosen me to do ______________? (You fill in your blank)

I can be quite a mess at it Lord. I often don't know what to say or what to do. I feel so helpless and sometimes foolish.

1 Corinthians 1:20-25 (New International Version)

²⁰Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²²Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

And the one He used to draw me into ministry:

Jeremiah 1:4-9 (New International Version)

⁴ The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew ^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

⁶ "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

⁷ But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth.

As I go out this morning to minister to my sisters again, I go in the Foolish Freedom of the Lord.

He is the healer.

He is the provider.

He is the comforter.

He is the answer.

I am on a foolish follower filled with gratitude and love for the opportunity to pray with a sister, listen to a fellow minister who is filled with heartache, encourage a friend to "Stay the Course"!!

Let's just be Foolish today friends!!

Thank you for stopping by, I am truly blessed!

Really---ANYBODY can loose 10 Pounds!

2009-08-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Him--"You are overweight"

Me----"Excuse Me?"

Him---"You are overweight--close to 10 pounds!"

Me(Close to tears)----"I know, I have really tried, I have pretty much given up all sugar and I have been doing "The SHRED" every chance I get!!! This menopause stuff is making it so difficult. On top of that I am having such a hard time sleeping at night and I get kind of moody sometimes......"

Him---"I am talking about YOUR LUGGAGE Ma'am"

Me----"OH!! My LUGGAGE!!!

Him(Close to tears)---"Yes ma'am, you are going to have to do something about the extra weight or Pay the extra price!!"

Me(wiping my tears away)--"oh, ok".

Soooo....My suitcase and I have been working this out together in preparation for this trip.

Yesterday, before I flew out here to beautiful Green Bay, Wisconsin to join up with the Lifeway Woman's Ministry Team for Fully Loaded/Living Proof Live Simulcas t, we had a serious talk!

This is the deal Mrs Samsonite (I assume she IS married since she has little ones that live with her), YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Believe Me, I KNOW this is not easy but you CAN DO IT. I have faith in you!

Here is a place to start, cut back on the shoes and the extra jacket. Really, YOU DON"T NEED THEM and you know it.

Just say NO!

Another thing, you have to learn when to ZIP IT UP! You can not embrace everything! You have to be selective, you have to choose! A lot of things SEEM GOOD but it is not all GOOD!

There is a time, a place, a season for Bubble Bath, Books and Body Lotion! You just have to leave some things behind!!

Think ahead, “Do I really need this?” "How am I going to feel about it when weigh in comes?"

The discussion was tough on her but sometimes, we have to hear the hard stuff in order to go higher, reach the sky, touch the Heavens!

In the end, it was good, she passed with FLYING COLORS!!

I, on the other hand, needed 4 plastic bins to pass through security!!

Pray for me friends. Sugar really is the enemy!!

Congratulations to The Biggest Looser!!!

Of course, I did cut this guys head off but hey, he deserved it!!

Praise the Lord, the GUTS, the Blow Dryer and the Concealer made it to Green Bay!!

Hey....Watch for me on the Proverbs 31 Devotions Tomorrow, I am so honored to be there!! This is a God Chasing Ministry!!

What WILL People THINK???

2009-08-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have new car. It has all kinds of bells and whistles and some people think it is really a nice car. Too nice maybe. I, however, am not really a "car" person. My Honey is! He loves to try out new models and trades cars as often as possible. He doesn't have a lot of hobbies, or spend money on boats or golf or hunting trips. He just likes cars. New ones.

I am still trying to figure out all the gadgets on my car. It answers the phone for me, wether I want it to or not. It remembers how I like my seat when I drive and even tells me how to get where I am going. It even remembers the LAST place I have been in case I want to go there again which is far more than I can usually remember!

One thing that I thought was odd about my car is that it has an audio cassette player!

My first thought was WHY?? Who needs those anymore?? My last car was 6 years old and it only had a CD player!

In any case, I had a bit of a drive to make recently and would be all alone so I decided to grab a teaching series to take along. I like to use my time wisely. When I went my "stash" to choose one, I discovered a very old but very special teaching series that I have had for YEARS on the "Specific Plan of God" for EACH of our lives!! I had not been able to listen to it in a long time since it was on AUDIO TAPE!

Imagine that!! The topic was exactly what I had been studying and searching God's Word about over the past weeks and God provided the OLD TOOL that I needed to hear it.

So Cool!!

My drive when by way too fast. I was as deeply effected by this old teaching as when I first heard it so many years ago. The anointed Word of God does that! It was like a REVIVAL in my car as I was reminded of some of the things that God had shown me over the years, about His plan for my particular ministry and life.

I REALLY NEEDED to hear this stuff again as I still sometimes get confused by some of the many options that seem to be drawing me. There are so many "GOOD" God things that surround us but I have always desired to do the EXACT THING that God has for ME to do.

I do not want to waste my time, or anyone else's, pursuing things that are not meant to be. I want to do only those things that NO ONE ELSE can do but me. The things that God created ME to do.

I want to STAY FOCUSED on those things regardless of the setbacks, the circumstances or the closed doors that might seem to be altering or at least hindering, my course.

There is a story in the Bible about a man who approached Jesus and asked how he might go about claiming his eternal life. Jesus told the man, who was apparently very rich in material possessions, that he need to "Sell everything you have and follow me!".

I have read that story many times over the years. The obvious point is how difficult it is to give up "things" in order to follow Jesus. As I listened to the teaching today, it struck me, maybe it wasn't the THINGS this guy struggled with.

Maybe it was the APPROVAL of others.

Maybe it was the ACCEPTANCE of those around him that was so difficult to give up.

Maybe it was "What will PEOPLE THINK if I SELL EVERYTHING???"

Maybe it was what others would have to give up if HE sold everything? Like if he owned a company or something?

I wonder how many people over the centuries have approached places, experiences, ministries, blessings that God has for them but are just not willing to take the chance of looking silly or stupid or expose themselves, or others, to the risk?

Do you ever wonder...What will people THINK if I actually pursue this thing that God has put on my heart?

What if I fail?

What if I fall completely on my face and look like an idiot?

What if no one gets it? doesn't understand?

Has God put a dream in your heart that is worth "SELLING EVERYTHING" for including your image, the approval of others, the understanding of others?

I think the response of this guy tells it all...

Matthew 19:22 (The Message)

²²That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.

Praying for my friend who feels like Tamar.

2009-08-25T03:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Sister,

I woke up thinking of you this morning. The Lord has kept you steady on my heart.

I have called upon His name, His authority, His love, His provision, His passion for you!!

You, sweet sister, feel that you have been "raped and thrown away for desolation" but God sees your heartbreak and your loneliness. He sees you as precious, beautiful, valuable and FULL OF NEW POTENTIAL!

You are His precious daughter. He has not forgotten you. He has not left you for another and He never will!

As I prayed for you this morning, this was the "Message" that I got for you:

Matthew 5:1-16 (The Message)

You're Blessed

^1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Salt and Light

¹³"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

^14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

What About ME??

2009-08-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. I like country music! Some of it anyway.

My music of choice is without a doubt worship music of any kind which is pretty much all I listen to these days in my car, on my ipod and in my home. However, I cut my teeth on Country Music and occasionally wander over to a Country channel on a long car drive or if it is Music Awards night on TV.

There is a country song by Toby Keith that was released a few years back. I don't know enough about Toby to have an overall opinion about his songs or his values but I was very struck by this song. I have always felt like he "nailed" an unfortunate truth about us girls sometimes when it comes to life!

The song is called, "I want to talk about ME!" You Tube would not net let copy it here but do check it out if you are up for a little boot scootin' bogey!

I was recently reading a Bible story that made me think of that song. Yep, God uses all kinds of stuff to help me "get it"!

It's the story of Tamar and her not nice brother Amnon found in 2 Samuel 13:1-22. Tamar was the daughter of King David. His Highness David, as you know, had lots of wives and lots of kids. His son Amnon was a bit like his Dad when it came to women and thought he should have anyone his little heart desired whenever his heart desired it.

Tamar was Amon's half sister, a fact that did not hinder his lust for her or his longing to "get to know her better". The very sad story of Tamar's trouble with Amon turns out to be one of the many stories in the Bible that could easily turn into an R-Rated movie today. This is not a nice story and is unfortunately, one all to familiar to women today. At the risk of creating a very long post, I have copied it here for the ease of your reading.

If you know the story, skip the blue part!

2 Samuel 13:1-22

In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David. Amnon became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her. Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. He asked Amnon, "Why do you, the king's son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won't you tell me?"

Amnon said to him, "I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

"Go to bed and pretend to be ill," Jonadab said. "When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.' "

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand."

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him." So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.

"Send everyone out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."

"Don't, my brother!" she said to him. "Don't force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don't do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you." But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and get out!"

"No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me". But he refused to listen to her. He called his personal servant and said, "Get this woman out of here and bolt the door after her." ¹⁸ So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.

Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman.

There are so many things that could be said about this horrible story but the thing that I was looking at during my study were the words of Tamar in verse 13...

"What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace?"

I have been there done that!

Not under the same circumstances as Tamar, certainly, but with the same desperation. At 23 years old when I found myself at the bottom of the heap of life, due to my own choices and my own sin, those where the first words that came to my mind...

"What about me? Where can I get rid of my disgrace".

I was thinking EXACTLY what Tamar was thinking.....

What WILL THEY THINK and what can I do to avoid it?

I have learned over the years that is the enemies best tactic with women. We are surrounded every day with exposure to his con games in one fashion or another. It may be the lure of love, personal sin or the disgusting decision of another, like Tamar faced.

Satan has but one goal and that is to steal the purity, dignity and the personal feelings of value of women from their very deepest parts.

He is the bad guy! He wants to take you out. He wants to have you in a place of desperation and distortion of circumstances so that you will turn your head and heart completely upon yourself and away from God. He wants to steal your influence, your self confidence and your understanding of the ROYALTY of your Birth and your INHERITANCE in Christ.

God's desire is so very opposite. It is ONLY in HIM and the Fullness of His love that we find ourselves.

When we look full into His face we will see ourselves, regardless of our circumstances, mistakes, violations, lostness, as He see us....Pure and Holy and Adored by Him.

HE is where we can get rid of our disgrace, once and for all!

What about Y.O.U.???

Have you given God ALL of your disgrace?

Boys will be boys!

2009-08-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

I am having such a fun weekend with my oldest G-Boys (don't tell them I called them that, they think it's "girly").

We have been hanging out since yesterday morning and I am loving every minute. We have seen a movie--"BandSlam" (it was really good BTW); then hurried over to the music store to try out every instrument they have in preparation for the band of the future. We have had popcorn, M&M's, Milkshakes and hamburgers, Mexican food and my requested "Chicken and Yellow Rice".

I can not even COUNT the number of pitchers of Sweet Tea that have been downed.

Hense...they stayed up until 2am last night watching ANOTHER movie with Aunt Julianna. As for me, by that time I was I snuggled in my bed listening to their laughter and thinking, "This is Heaven!".

This morning, bright and early, we were at the mall ready to take on the big waves!!

Yep! Surfing in the Mall...gotta love it!

Tomorrow night we have a Tampa Bay Devil Rays Game on the agenda. After that, they leave and my house is really quiet. A MESS, but quiet.

It gets worse as my Julianna heads back out next week to return to college.

Honey and I will empty nesting again very soon.

My, My..time does fly!!

Speaking of FLYING! I head out next week to be a part of the wonderful speaking team for Lifeway Women's Fully Loaded! It comes right before the AWESOME and Exciting Living Proof Live Simulcast! It you live ANYWHERE NEAR Green Bay, Wisconsin, we would love to have you come join us.

You can Register HERE!

As for LPL....You can be there from anywhere!!!

Check out the BIG CHEESE!!
An Important Message from Beth Moore from LWEvents on Vimeo.

Will you be there?

Life in the Graveyard

2009-08-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

I recently enjoyed a wonderful "Girlfriend Getaway" with Melinda at Traveling the Road Home.

We had a wonderful time together traveling to the "She Speaks" conference in North Carolina. Melinda flew into Tampa from Dallas/Ft Worth to keep me company for the 10 hour DRIVE from my home to Charlotte.

In order to break our long journey up a bit, we took a short side trip to visit enchanting St Simons Island, Ga! It was a quick but wonderful time. We only had one night and one day to explore the quaint little island so we had to choose wisely. Although our visit came during the heat of the summer, the weather was pleasantly mild and comfortably cooled by the gentle ocean breezes that wander in from the Atlantic. The island is dotted with beautiful beaches, lighthouses and museums.

St Simons has a special place in my heart as it was where, as a brand new Christian, I first sat under the anointed teaching of the one and only Kay Arthur. It was also the location that my youngest son Andy and his bride Bethany, choose to be married, not too many years ago. Both events took place at "Epworth by the Sea", a Christian retreat center managed by the Methodist church. St Simons is the spot where John Wesley, founder of Methodism preached his first sermon. The Island is filled with deep spiritual significance and a feeling of God's favor and presence.

As part of Georgia's "Golden Isles" it is easy to find a mix of history and adventure behind every ivy covered plantation wall. Life is lazy on St Simon's as vacationers and residents alike wander the shaded bike paths, enjoy a trolley ride or like me and Melinda, drive REALLY s-l-o-w-l-y along the winding coastal roads ooohing and aaawwing and taking pictures for our blogs!

The first night, we ate at a yummy seafood restaurant called "Crabdaddys". We enjoyed hot fresh bread that was served with a whipped honey and spice butter. As far as Melinda and I were concerned that alone would have been just fine as the full meal!! Instead we feasted on fresh catch Salmon and my personal favorite, Crab Cakes and Grits! um, um good!

The next day we enjoyed a tour around the mysterious and historical little island that is surrounded by beaches, thick marsh land and nature. The island is covered and shaded by Oak trees dripped with moss that have surely shadowed pirates and pilgrims of every surrely sort since the 16th century.

Near the Island's north end is historic Ft Frederica and the beautiful Christ's Church, originally built in 1820 and restored in 1886.

This is said to be the very spot where John Wesley surrendered his life to the call of God. The church cemetery, protected by an archway entrance with the words: "Enter with Reverence", is the final resting place of the Islands earliest and most notable families.

Melinda and I spent hours reading the family graves stones, listening to birds chatter and the church bells ring. We were naturally obedient to the request for reverence as we were awestruck by the legacy and lives that we found positioned side by side and headstone to headstone. We took turns reading out loud to one another, the beautiful words used by some of the families to remember their loved ones:

Things like this written for John Couper:

Born in Lochwinnoch Scotland, 9th of March 1759

Died at Hopetown, Georgia, 24th of March, 1850

"Endowed with a fine intellect, a cheerful and amiable disposition and most liberal and benevolent feelings. His life was devoted to the duty of redeeming himself most acceptable to His Creator-by doing Most Good to His creatures."

Next to Sir John was his wife Rebecca.

"Faithful and Exemplary in the discharge of every duty,

Living, she was surrounded by friends and Dying, left no enemy"

Pretty awesome huh? I would be happy with that, how about you??

Have you ever wondered how someone might capture your ENTIRE life in a few words??

It got me thinking. The "headstone" of Jesus carried a different declaration. Rather than capture His life in glowing accolades, the words placed above his head were meant to forever fix the charge against him. As opposed to pretty words of praise and admiration, the graveside of Jesus was written to invoke and declare shame, failure and a life of duplicity.

The Gospels each reveal the short few words that were intended to capture the life of Jesus:

Matthew 27:37

Mark 15:26

Luke 23:38

John 19:19

"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"

To Him be the Glory! And because of His Shame, There is LIFE in the Graveyard!!

Warning: This post might overwhelm you with wisdom and insight!!

2009-08-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

Many moons have risen and set since my last missive!

No this is not Poccohontas!

It's just that I feel that so much has gone into my brain and my spirit so far this year that I really should be smarter or at least more poetic.

Somehow, somewhere, all of this amazing input MUST come out!! Must'nt it??

I recently purchased a new IPhone that contains 32 GB's.

Definition:

gig⋅a⋅bit

[gig-uh-bit, jig-] Show IPA

–noun Computers.

a measure of storage capacity and data transfer equal to 1 billion (10⁹) bits.

The guy at the AT&T store says that is "really allot" and is more than my brain could ever hold. I am not sure that was a compliment.

I just arrived home from attending my first ever "Women of Faith" Conference and my brain is MUSH!!

How's that for waxing eloquent??

As I been pondering the MANY messages that God had for me in today's conference, I began to really think about some of the amazing teachers/authors/ ministry leaders/business specialist/Dr's/Preachers and God loving girlfriends that God has set me in front of in just the past 7 1/2 months!

I started listing just the ones that I could remember off the top of my brain GB'S without searching through files or documents. Here goes just a few of the people who have poured knowledge into my life and heart this year---from a pulpit or a podium!

Pastor James Tanner, Red House Baptist Church, Richmond, Kentucky

Shirley Moses, Southern Baptist Texas Women's Specialist

Beth Moore, Bible Teacher, Author

Max Locado, Pastor, Speaker, Author

Peggy Hartshorn, PhD, President, Heartbeat International

Travis Cottrel, Musician, Worship Leader

Lysa TerKeurst, Author, Speaker, President of Proverbs 31 Ministries

Jennifer Rothschild, Author, Speaker

Phillip Rothschild, Ph.D

Henry Blackaby, Speaker, Author, Bible Teacher

John Trent, Author, Speaker

Rob Eager, Business/Ministry Specialist

Chris Tomlin, Musician, Worship Leader

Kelly Minter, Author, Bible Teacher

Chris Adams, Woman's Ministry Specialist, Lifeway

Gary Kinnaman, Ministry Leader, Author, Pastor, Teacher

This weekend:

Patsy Clairmont, Author, Teacher, Very Funny Lady

Lisa Harper, Author, Columnist

Mandisa, American Idol Girl!

Marilyn Meberg, Therapist, Speaker, Author

Sheila Walsh, Author, Speaker, Grammy Award winning Singer

Lisa Welchel, ExMouskateer/Actress, Author, Speaker--and Friend, who so kindly brought me along!

This does not include amazing and anointed conversations with women all over the nation, my own girlfriends in God, my own Pastor, my Amigos, my Honey, my family and my children!

The above list is by no means exhaustive! God has allowed me to share my story and ministry journey and experience in so many places across the nation this past year as well as attend many training and leadership events as a guest, that I could NEVER remember them all, let alone, list and link each on.

The question is this....

Am I smarter?

Have I changed as a result?

Is God more evident in my life? And last but not least......Do I have brain GB's left for more??

I hope so because I really love to learn and to grow deeper in my understanding of God's Word and His ways!

How about you??

Who has been your most memorable teacher so far this year? A bible Study teacher? A mentor? A friend or spouse?

How? When? What? has God used to pour wise counsel, teaching and ministry into your life this year?

Proverbs 4:6
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

FILL R UP LORD!

2009-08-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

I remember the day (this will date me!) when we used to drive our car up to a gas station and a man in a jumpsuit would come running out and fill our car with gas. While he was doing that, he would take a spray bottle and a cloth and wipe your windshield clean, check the tires and maybe add a bit of air if they were low. Often, this man would know you as a loyal customer and tell you if you were due for an oil check or some kind of regular maintenance on your car.

Wow, I 'm getting all nostalgic....

I rebelled for so long after that little man retired and new pumps came in that required me to GET OUT OF MY CAR! on a hot sunny day or a rainy day or a freezing cold day, and PUMP my own gas. I hated that. It was demeaning and STINKY and sometimes I get gasoline on my hands or gas spray on my dress and smell like gasoline all day long. I used to have my honey to take the cars every Sunday and fill them with gas so I wouldn't have to do that. He used to always do that for me. They would just appear in my driveway all ready to roll!

Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end............

On August 1, I ended my latest prayer journal and started a fresh one. I always love that for some reason. It makes me feel like LIFE is fresh and that any bad stuff that I had written or needed or whined to God about in my last journal, is all gone and I am fresh and clean to start a new season of prayer.

At the beginning of this new journal, I captured the amazing time that I had at "She Speaks" and I made a list of questions that I have for God as I begin this next "season" of life.

A precious friend suggested that I take a walk through the PROVERBS for the next 31 days as I had shared with her my lack of clarity in several KEY areas of my life/ministry. I shared that I have lots of questions for God and really need some wisdom about moving forward with some specific ideas.

I started my new journal doing just that and make my way today though Proverbs Chapter 6.

Gods Word is so, so good. So faithful. So RIGHT ON and ALIVE!

During my quiet time today, He had me go back and RE-READ my requests of Him. My questions list. My brand new FRESH pages of life for the NEXT season written just a few days ago. What could be there that I had already forgotten?? I don't usually go back and reread my words for several weeks at least.

I was so humbled and so clearly answered.

Maybe what God spoke to me will speak to you today. I pray that it will but be warned it is not pretty! As a matter of fact, I hope it stinks!

Pat, sometimes you come before me as if to say "Fill R Up" Lord.

Drop your answers into my empty tank and lets get going! We have places to go, people to see, books to write, speeches to make, Grandkids to hang out with, family to serve, a MINISTRY to run!

"FILL R UP Lord!"

You want to sit in your comfy green "prayer chair" and wait while I "fill your tank" and "clean your windows"??

Daughter, that is not my way.

My way is for you to DWELL in my presence. Stay so FULL and Saturated in me and my Word that you will squeeze out with my WILL. Your tank will STAY FULL!! My Spirit and my Favor will spill out on your hands and your clothes and you will SMELL like me. You will automatically do my WILL. You will Walk each day into the places that I would have you go.

You want wisdom Pat----Fill Up with Me.

You want answers---Fill Up with Me.

You want direction---Fill Up with Me.

FILL R UP Pat and you will overflow with those things and your tank will never run dry!!

Proverbs 6:22

When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

ps...If you would like to hear more about Proverbs and my "walk in wisdom" today, check out our Blog at "Surrendering the Secret"

"She Heard"

2009-08-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

Ring...Ring....Ring...

"Hello"

"Hello Pat"

Hello?? Who is this? Is this a sales call?

"Pat, It's ME! This is God."

"God Who?"

"Excuse Me??"

"Sorry Lord, I just didn't expect to hear from you today"

Could this ever happen to you?

Are you like me sometimes and kind of put God in His special "Talk to me" places?

We EXPECT to hear from God at church. We EXPECT to hear from God in our Bible Study. We EXPECT to hear from God in our prayer times. But sometimes God speaks the loudest and clearest when we DO NOT EXPECT IT!

I just had one of those times.

I knew that "She Speaks" is a Christian Woman's Speaking and Writing Conference. I knew that we would be talking ABOUT God and ABOUT His plan for our ministries of life. I knew that God's WORD would be shared and taught in the context of the conference. But I did not drive out of my driveway last Tuesday morning expecting to have an encounter with God that would last for 6 days. I did not expect to have Him show up in such profound and undeniable moments. I did not expect to HEAR from Him in such an unforgettable ways. God began to speak to me from the first day our trip started.

He spoke in conversations.

He spoke at a lighthouse. He spoke in a graveyard.

He spoke at a tiny little church.

He spoke at a dilapidated old ministry headquarters whose original founders somewhere, somehow, lost connection with His voice as they got too caught up in their methods.

He spoke in the active restoration process of that ministry.

He spoke through a cow and He spoke through a barn. He spoke through a faithful woman and He spoke through a man.

He spoke though a divine breakfast prayer with an amazing young woman named Sophie.

God speaks.

I heard.

My heart continues to "ponder" the notes and the new Revelation that God brought to my heart this time away. Some can not be clearly articulated by a "wordsmith want-to-be" like me, but a few things are just riding around in my brain like a life raft on a stormy ocean wave.

Many things happened BEFORE we arrived at "She Speaks" but that event itself took on a level 5 Hurricane momentum with the very first speech by Lysa Terkeurst. Her speech was entitled "How to Discover Your Remarkable" and her 4 points NAILED my current life circumstances as the gunshot rang to start the weekend race.

I highly recommend your ordering that speech as well as the the closing message by Renee Swope and any of the workshops!

However, if you have to choose just one thing, I know that Lysa would join me in encouraging you to start with the Saturday night speech by Jennifer Rothschild,

I have been blessed to hear Jennifer Rothschild speak many times as we are often on the same trail with LIfeway Woman's Events. She is always amazing as her life itself is a ministry and a proclamation of the goodness and power of God,

However, her speech on Saturday night went down in my book as one of the 5 MOST LIFE CHANGING Speeches I have ever heard!!!

I really mean that.

If you buy this tape and do not agree, you let me know and I will BUY IT BACK!!

Jennifer's speech was so clearly the voice of God that the 600 people in the room could barely move when she was done. To see her take the arm of her husband and leave the room was as if to watch God Himself carry her out. It was unforgettable.

Ring....Ring....Ring...

Good Morning Lord....

I was EXPECTING to hear your voice!!

"She Listens"

2009-07-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

This past year has been a ministry journey that has been unparalleled in my life up until now.

That is not to say that it has been the BEST year of my life or the MOST Valuable year. That spot is reserved for my 33 years of marriage to a wonderful man (HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND with the kids HONEY!!!) that I have been blessed to survive and enjoy! Along with the gift of my family and the precious friends that God has blessed me with.

However, God, in His goodness, has allowed me to experience the most amazing past few years of ministry that I could have ever possibly dreamed of or envisioned in my own mind....and I, am a VISIONARY!!!! Just ask those friends and family!! I can dream me some BIG dreams!

The verse in Ephesians that says God will bless us with us more than we can ever hope or ask for has been my mantra for many, many years.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

This year, as I have traveled around the Nation speaking at woman's conferences and serving leaders in ministry to women, I have been filled up so much that sometimes I can barely take it all in.

This past few days has been more blessing overload and has placed me in a position, yet again, of speechless awe of who God is and what He wants to do in each of our little lives.

I left my home on Tuesday with a sweet ministry friend who flew in from Texas to attend "She Speaks", a wonderful speaking and writing conference sponsored by my friends at Proverbs 31 Ministries. We met up with another girlfriend on Wednesday and the God moments continued.

We have encountered the presence of God at every turn of our road trip.

Last night, three of us sat around our computers to BLOG. That was AFTER they taught me how to use my new IPhone and how to TWITTER!!

Check out Traveling the Road Home and Sincerely Paige for some trip details.

As for me, as I have considered blogging about some of the fresh revelation that God has shown me, I find myself without words. I was so frustrated cause I WANT TO TALK!!!!

I WANT TO TELL!

I WANT TO SHARE!!!

RIGHT NOW!

Words would just not come.

When I woke up this morning, God gave me the title for this post:

SHE LISTENS!!!!

A scripture that I treasure in God's WORD was when Mary discovered her pregnancy with Jesus, her response was to "ponder these things in her heart".

I am not a great "ponderer". In my excitement over the things God shows me or does in my life, I am sometimes way to quick to TALK--SPEAK---TELL.

God clearly showed me that I am to "ponder" some of the revelation that He has poured into my heart over the past few days.

So, today, the 3 of us God Girls are off to LISTEN at "She Speaks"!

I can not wait to hang out with the many other girlfriends I have recruited from around the Nation to join me this year, to hug on my P31 Sisters and my Lifeway buddy, Jennifer Rothschild. Fun, Fun, Fun!

I go with the words of the prophet Samuel:

"Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening"

Mischief is in the House....Somewhere!!

2009-07-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

I promised you a funny story today so here goes!

We had the fun, although exhausting, joy of having one of our G's girls spend the night this weekend. This little sweetheart is the 5 year old "Big Sister" of our youngest son's crew of 3.

After a fun day/night of swimming, roasting marshmallows, planting flowers, eating hamburgers off the grill, playing house with a tiny frog, reading books and watching a late movie we fell into a coma/sleep at 11 pm on Saturday night.

Sunday morning we were SLOWLY making our way through our routine of getting ready for church. The plan was, I was taking her to meet her Daddy and Mommy for their church, and we were heading the other direction to ours.

As honey and I were getting ready, our little G-Darling was in and out of EVERYTHING!! EVERY MINUTE!! Once honey got out of the shower and got dressed, her territory expanded into our bathroom/bedroom.

We were all busy about our preparation for church when we began to hear a VERY loud noise that seemed to be coming from outside our bathroom window. We thought it was coming from the house next door. It sounded like someone was doing the lawn or possibly pressure washing the house. We thought it seemed to be a bit odd on a normally quiet Sunday morning but we continued our routine of getting ready . After awhile it became so irritating that I was getting grouchy about it. I made my way to a window in our home that would allow me to investigate the noise to see what in the world our neighbor was up to. To my surprise I saw that NO ONE was outside. The yard was empty and quiet.

I went outside to check our our outside AC unit to see if that was it....NOTHING!

I checked out our pool pump for a breakdown....NOTHING!

I went back into the house and the noise was still blaring, almost unbearable.

Honey and I searched high and low trying to figure out the noise until we came to the conclusion that it was IN THE PIPES! IN THE WALL!! We were very concerned that a pipe had broken inside our bathroom wall behind the shower! YUK!! Not a good start for a Sunday!

I went ahead and finished getting dresses to meet my son with our G-Girl as her "busy-ness" was a bit of extra distraction while we were dealing with visions of water filling our walls.

I secured her in the car seat and headed out to meet her Daddy as planned a few miles from our home.

We moved the little darling from my car seat to his and off they went in one direction with me in another heading back home.

They had just driven away from the gas station that was our meeting spot, when my G-Girl asked her Daddy, "Why isn't G going to her church Daddy". She was smart enough to know that I was headed in the wrong direction for my church!! Amazing!! Turns out, that G-Girls is SMARTER than I thought! This is what followed.......

"She has to go back home pumpkin, she and Pop have a noise that they are looking for, they think a pipe broke in their wall"

"Oh no Daddy, that's not a PIPE making that noise! That is G's face scrubber!! I turned it on and put it back into her bath basket on her bathtub and it is making lots of noise!!!"

My son immediately tried to call my cell phone, which I had left at home. He then called his Dad who was standing at the door waiting for me when I arrived back home to our EMERGENCY!!

As soon as I walked in, I realized, the house was silent! That brilliant man of mine had FIXED THE LEAK!!!???

Yes, he "fixed" it alright.....He began to tell me how!

Our little CUTIE had turned on a "Dove" battery operated face scrubber that I keep in a cute metal basket on the side of my bathtub. She turned the switch on and put it back in the basket!!! It was hidden behind the Bubble Bath and the Shampoo...BUZZING TO BEAT THE BAND!!

All of the in and outs of the bathroom, in and out of the house, discussions, mystery and madness of the morning had been the ENTERTAINMENT of that VERY SMART little G-Girl!

Unbelievable!!

Honey was a bit miffed at first but I just BURST OUT LAUGHING!! Apparently that is what our son was doing when he told his Dad. I was actually a bit of a proud G-Ma at her brilliance. Not only with her little game but also the fact that she KNEW what direction I should be driving to go to my church!

I truly feel that she had no idea all that was going on around her little stunt. I think she got distracted and went on to have a TEA PARTY with her dolls which is what she was doing while the mad search was going on!

Oh my.....You just gotta love 'em!!!

Otherwise, you may give them to the neighbors!!!

"That's A BLOG"

2009-07-27T05:17:00.000-07:00

"Sweet Tea" has provided my family with a brand new teasing opportunity for me.

As I mentioned in my last post, following the family photo on St Armand's Circle (post below), they all quipped almost in unison.."that's a Blog"....Those little cuties :)

Yesterday, I realized how true it is that I am capturing LIFE, mostly the fun parts, right here on my blog. I love that about this.

I have kept a prayer/spiritual journal for 25 years!!

I have about 50 spiral bound notebooks put away in a safe place that have recorded my prayers, my spiritual journey, Bible Study notes and questions (or sometimes my version of answers) for God. They truly reveal the good, the bad and the ugly of who I am inside and what God has done to change my life. I often wonder, when I am gone, what will happen to them?

Will anyone understand my short notes and half thoughts?

Should they be buried with me?

Should they be buried NOW??

I still keep my prayer journal but blogging has provided an new kind of journaling.

On "Sweet Tea" I have a place to express the truths that I see in everyday life. A place to re-live a sweet moment. A place to describe a special place, event or encounter. A place for photos of people and places I love.

I truly love this. "Sweet Tea" is like my journals but a place to publicly proclaim the joyful journey of the day to day, ABUNDANT LIFE that Christ provides. My spelling and/or grammer may not always be the best since most post are typed on the run but my heart is always in each one.

"Sweet Tea" does what Sweet TEA does, It provides a place for me to hang out for an extra moment, to savor the SWEET things that happen each day or maybe something much "deeper" like....does this paint color work!

After a year, it has become part of my world. A fun part. A Hobby of sorts. A resting place. A place of worship and a place of praise.

I love that I have a few friends like you, who frequently stop by to enjoy "Sweet Tea" with me.

There a BILLIONs of blogs out there so I am honored to have you visit and especially when you say hi or stir me on, with your comments about a particular post that has blessed you!

This whole post thought process started with a moment yesterday when my husband and I looked at each other and said in unison :

"THAT'S a blog"!!!!

Come back tomorrow to hear the FUNNY details!! You will love this story! I promise!!

The Columbia Restaurant, Where Eating is an Experience

2009-07-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

At 10:30 last night, after arriving back home from Julianna's 21st Family Birthday Dinner (that included one very special friend), I quickly checked my email and popped a note on facebook about how completely blessed and FULL I was.

I really felt like it was ALL of our birthday!!

I had ALL (can I repeat that..ALL!) of my children and grandchildren together in one place with me and my honey!

There is NOTHING!! that tops that for me here on this earth!

Julianna's choice for this historic event was "The Columbia Restaurant" at St Armands Key, Flordia. It is about a one hour drive from our home and well worth the journey. A Panoramic drive over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge connects us to the sparkling aqua waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is truly a GIFT from God to each of us. It is a MUST see for everyone especially at sunset.

Julianna's birthday request was a family dinner at Columbia to be followed by a walk around St Armands Circle with some SHOPPING MONEY!!!

Anyway, I got lots a Facebook "Amen's" from my local friends about the joys of the Columbia and but quite a few e-mails from friends from "afar" who were wondering

"What is a 1905 Salad?".

So here goes a little history about the amazing "Columbia" Restaurant".

(BTW, They are on Facebook also, I am a bit surprised that I didn't hear from them)

The Columbia was founded in 1905 (Hense the name of the Salad (DUH!) in our own Tampa's famous Ybor City by Casimiro Hernandez Sr. After 25 years of fame and food, Casimiro Jr built the FIRST air conditioned dining room in Tampa complete with an elevated dance floor. (Honestly, it was only right to have some options for exercising all that food off!). They also added their trademark Patio Dining influenced by the courtyard restaurants found in Andalucia, Spain.

One of my favorite things about the decorations of the Columbia is the colorful mosaic tile that is used everywhere including the dishes.

St Armands Circle was the 2nd location for the Columbia, followed by the Historic District of St Augustine, the Pier in St Petersburg, Sand Cay on Clearwater Beach and Celebration in Orlando.

The Columbia has been featured many times in "Southern Living Magazine" and has lots of awards and plaques of appreciation on their walls that proclaim their success.

It is truly a dining as well as a history experience to visit.

Although everything is good, Honey and I pretty much have the same ting every visit--1905 Salad, Spanish Bean Soup and Hot Cuban Bread and butter!

Here is the recipe for 1905 Salad. Someone at the Tampa location shared it with me years ago before the sharing was legal! I have made it many times and it is worth the work.

If I have not made it clear enough by now, let me just encourage you.....when you come to Florida, find one to visit!!

It is a dining experience!!

Just because I am so nice, I won't even talk about the Butter Pecan Coke Float that I had at Killians Ice Cream on the Circle for dessert (hehe!).

The prize moment of the night was watching every one of my "G's" all eat freshly made ice cream cones that dripped down their faces.

It made me slip into a corner and thank God for excuses to gather them all together!!

All my kids chimed in after this photo was shot...."That one will be on the blog".

They know me so well!!

'1905' Salad

Salad Ingredients

½ head iceberg lettuce
2 ripe tomatoes, cut in eighths
½ cup Swiss cheese, cut in julienne strips
½ cup ham, cut in julienne strips (or turkey or shrimp)
¼ cup green Spanish olives, pitted
2 teaspoons grated Romano cheese

Salad Dressing Ingredients

1/8 cup white wine vinegar
½ cup extra-virgin Spanish olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preparation

Toss together all salad ingredients in a bowl, except Romano Cheese.

Mix garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Beat until smooth with a wire whisk. Add olive oil, gradually beating to form an emulsion. Stir in vinegar and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Add dressing to salad and toss well. Add Romano Cheese and toss one more time. Serves 4!

Happy Birthday to Us!

2009-07-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

OK it is not really my birthday today.

It is my baby girls Birthday. She is 21, Heaven help Me!

My beautiful baby girl has become a woman. She is sensitive, intuitive, tender hearted and kind. She is a very loyal and supportive friend. She loves her home and her family and she loves music!

She is the most beautiful daughter in the whole world, to me.

But most importantly, she is alive!!!

My Julianna was born at 22 weeks gestation.

She weighed in at a whopping 1 and 1/2 pounds and was 10" long.

Her entire body fit into the palm of my husbands protective hands.

Julianna was a surprise birth to a beautiful young teenage girl who was completely unprepared to be a mommy. She made the most unselfish choice that a mother can make to insure life for her child. A life that she was unable to provide herself.

I have loved and honored Julianna's birth mother so much for the past 21 years that soon after Julianna became our daughter, I began to dream of serving the brave women who choose adoption over abortion. I was not one of those brave women. When I was faced with an unplanned pregnancy, I choose the lesser way out. I chose abortion.

Just a few months ago, my dream came true and our ministry added a licensed adoption agency to our family of services called "The Woven Basket".

Julianna's youngest brother Andy, who works in my ministry, attended one of our first adoptions this past week. He called me on his way home from the hospital after being invited to be present during the moments when the birth mother presented her newborn baby to his new parents. My son could barely speak as he attempted to explain the bittersweet beauty of the process. He described the sweetness of God that filled the room. He described the prayers that each of them prayed for the new baby and the new family that God had put together for him. He described the love the adoptive family expressed for the birth mother and the love that she shared back with them. I was falling apart in my kitchen just hearing Andy describe the scene.

I have experienced those precious moments.

21 years ago God placed a newborn baby girl in my arms.

The Doctors said, she will probably not live.

The Doctors said, if she does, she will be severely disabled.

The Doctors said, she will may be blind, not able to hear, not able to thrive and live a healthy life.

My husband and I used to go back and forth to the hospital several times a day to visit our precious daughter during the 3 long months before we were allowed to bring her home.

We went there to pray for her. To Touch her and sing to her. We went to be her Mommy and Daddy.

We would place our hands upon her, when our hands mostly covered her entire body, and we would say what God said!

Julianna, God says, He knit you together in your mothers womb.

Julianna, God says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Julianna, God says, He has a plan for you and it is good and not evil.

Julianna turns 21 today. The Doctors were wrong and God was right!!

Happy Birthday to us!!

Happy Birthday to you my darling daughter!

I love you,

Mom

Pray Not Say!!!!!

2009-07-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

One of the many things that I have learned as a Mom is that our kids do not always want to hear what we have to say!!

Shocking, I know!

I wish that I could say that I have "mastered" this wonderful truth but after all of my years of practice, I am still getting this one wrong.

There are STILL times, as the mother of 3 grown children (my baby turns 21 this week!) that I mess this up and let my mouth run ahead of my brain, or worse, my prayers!!

I always feel justified since I know that my motivation is 100% pure. I want to keep my kids from getting hurt, making bad choices or hurting others.

But is it really??? Is my motive always pure?

Aren't I sometimes motivated by my desire to get my way? Have them do what I want them to do? Sometimes, I think that I am trying to PROVE God to them by telling them what HE wants as opposed to allowing them to discover what He wants for themselves!

As if He needs me to stand in for Him.

I remember the time that our middle son Andy broke His arm at the park behind our house.

I threw him in the car to rush to the hospital, and then I remembered some newly learned Bible verses and swung the car into a parking lot and slammed on brakes. “Andy” I said, we need to pray and God will HEAL your arm, Andy looked down at his crooked arm and looked back up at me and said MOM---God wants you to take me to the HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW!!!

Andy was much smarter than I was that day.

“RELEASE” is a big word for a Mother isn't it? Sometimes, it feels impossible.

There are so many times that we are called to RELEASE our children to God, let Him do the work in their lives and PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! instead of Say! Say! Say!!!

We sometimes have to Release when they fail.

Release when WE FAIL.

Release when they succeed (Kindergarten to college)

Release when they make wrong choices.

Release when they are in pain

RELEASE when GOD is working!

Sometimes, we have to just Pray and Not Say!

The Secrets of a Woman

2009-07-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

Today reflected on a sign of the times in my life. 10 years ago I would have never said the words that I am about to write.

I have spent a very good part of this day cleaning out my computer documents file and updating my speaking calendar! It used to be my closets that got in this condition. Now it is my hard drive!

Anyway, during that process I came across this document with a note at the top that said "Blog Article". The next "sign of the time" is that I have no idea if I wrote this or if I FOUND it somewhere so if you read it and you WROTE it, be sure to let me know and I will gladly give you the credit.

The bottom line is.....

It's good!

A Cover-up

I read today in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve sinned against God. Verse 7 stood out to me: "...they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves" after they'd eaten from the forbidden fruit.

Fig leaves around the hips, eh? I can almost see the couple cowering in an orchard, trying desperately to string the greenery before God shows up for their daily walk in the park. Their hands are shaking and sweat beads are forming on the foreheads. They know they've done wrong, and they know their actions have built a wall between themselves and God. And so they try to cover up, to pretend that every-thing's okay. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.

God walks onto the scene knowing full well what His kids had been up to. He speaks with them to make sure they understand the seriousness of disobeying Him, He levies the consequences for what they've done, and then...I love this part...He provides a cover-up for them.

Big difference between the first and second cover-ups!

The first is flimsy, inadequate, and manmade. The second is crafted by God's hands and covers the nakedness completely. More importantly, it's made from animal skins, which require a blood sacrifice. This cover-up is sufficient.

How many times do we sin, and then try to set things right on our own? We string fig leaves together -- using flimsy excuses to cover our tracks -- but our feeble attempts don't work. God knows what we've done, and, because He loves us and wants nothing to interfere with our fellowship with Him, He has provided the perfect cover-up for us.

Like the animal skins that covered Adam and Eve, this one covers us. It, too, required a blood sacrifice -- the blood of Jesus Christ. And it's sufficient. Nothing else is needed -- just our willingness to accept the gift of God's cover-up for us.

What an amazing proof of God's love for us!

Don't you agree!!??

ps...no "goodies" box yet but stay tuned!

Wow! Do I have some Goodies For you!!!

2009-07-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a week since I last sat quietly with "Sweet Tea".

I am so blessed by those of you who return to visit with me here and take the time to leave a sweet comment or prayer. You bless my heart and encourage me on.

I am just getting settled back into my home after being away more of the past 4 weeks than here. I have never traveled so much in my life but God has me on a fast track for building air miles. He has provided a sweet combination of fun and ministry and I am very grateful and blessed.

If you have followed "Sweet Tea," as I know MILLIONS do...you know that my last adventure was spent at the International Christian Retail Show.

We had a BLAST there shopping for new books and baubles for the ministry but the best thing was gathering 3 FULL boxes of FREE BOOKS!!

If you are a book lover like I am, you understand the THRILL of being the first to hold the FIRST copies of the newest Christian releases (and most are AUTOGRAPHED to boot)!!

I have Fiction books, Bible studies, books for the home, books for the teen and books for the man. I have kid books and Devotionals. Books! Books! Books! Just waiting to come your way!!

New book releases are one thing but books that are inspired by God to be released into the greedy (in a good way) hands of His Bride, takes this event to a whole new level.

There was a bit of talk about new trends in reading, BLOGS (of course!), E-Books (Big Stuff Coming there) and Kindle (or is it Kindel?)

However, in my heart there will NEVER be anything like the fresh cover and pages of a brand new book.

I have been reading to my kids since they were babies and now I love to read to my Grandkids (or for those 2 who no longer fit in my lap, buy them new books). I have a few new ones autographed especially for them!

These guys are coming your way AJ and Jacob!!

No matter how hard I try, I just cannot get a vision of cuddling up with one of my little ones with an EBook or a Kindle!

My boxes will arrive any day now so if you will take a minute to share what your favorite book of all time is or why you LOVE books and are praying for the Christian Booksellers of this Nation to stay strong, I will put you FIRST Place in my Give-AWAY drawing.

In the meantime---I need to figure out how to get "Mr Linky" on here cause I have LOTS of Giveaways coming your WAY!!! Anyone who can direct my steps with that gets signed up first!!

God's Walk In Closet!

2009-07-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

O Lord my God, you are very great;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty!

Psalm 104:1

I feel like my senses have been on overload for almost a month now. By divine appointments, God has allowed me the amazing privilege of traveling from the clear Gulf waters of my side of Florida to the roaring Pacific coast. As I watched those HUGE waves slam into the ragged rocks of the California coast, I was STARSTRUCK! When we really stop and consider the splendor and majesty of our God we have no place to go but our knees.

Now, within just weeks, I have found myself gazing each morning at the gigantic, breath taking, snow capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Sometimes I wonder just how much my little brain can truly capture of His Omnipotence, His Magnificence.....

His Glory.

As amazing and praise inspiring as God's creation is, in both of those places, it is the PEOPLE of God in whom HE Has Chosen to place His very Spirit!!!! His anointing, His Name!

This is the beautiful group of ladies who attended our "Surrendering the Secret" Certified Leaders Training in Modesto, California minus a few who escaped before the photo!

This is 1/2 of my class at the Lifeway Women's Ministry "Fully Loaded" Training in Stockton,California.

This is the other 1/2!!

These beuatiful Jewels joined me for a day of mountain majesty in Estes Park, Colorado. To my left is a long time sister, Martha, who helped me start the ministry of A Woman's Place over 22 years ago. She has since moved to Denver and was my precious tour guide through the mountains. The one next to her is Trisha Heflin, a STS National Trainer who helped me with the Denver training and next to her is Sheila, Trisha's BFF from Texas.

We talked about God and His goodness for 8 solid hours!!!! We honestly did!

This is God's precious jewel, Susan, who was our STS Training sponsor at Northern Hills Christian Churc h in Denver. If you live anywhere close and do not have a home church, this place ROCKS!!!

This is our new team of STS Leaders in Denver!! They are amazing and raring to go!

This morning, I am sitting in my Denver hotel room taking it all in. My personal assignment today is to write! I have lots of deadlines and writing goals but I always seem to be drawn to places of PEOPLE instead of PAPER!

Pray with me if you will Sisters, that God will help me see your faces on my laptop pages.

After all, YOU are His Bride!!!

Isaiah 61:10

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Extra Baggage---$25.00!!!

2009-07-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

I guess all of the travel in my life lately has caused me to think in terms of packing and unpacking, checking in and checking out, loading and unloading!!

Since my last post I have traveled back home from the West to the East, had just a few days to love on some G-babies, catch up on emails, attend to some local ministry work, pay my bills, have dinner with some family and some friends, and clean my house!

Today, I am REPACKING to head back to the WEST!!!

I really don't have time to sit at my computer but I have something taking shape in my heart so here goes my best attempt at capturing it in a few minutes.

I am the kind of person who has always filled up any blank space in my life but this year has taken the cake, so to speak! I have traveled more this year than probably all of my entire lifetime combined! In some ways, it has worn me out. At the same time, I have experienced some amazing blessings, met tons of new brothers and sisters in Christ and seen God at work in so many lives and situations that I continue to melt in His presence.

God has allowed me to watch Him Heal Hearts before my very eyes!!

I remember when we got our first Ultrasound machine at A Woman's Place Ministries, the crisis pregnancy center where I work. I saw how God literally opened, what we refer to as a "Window to the Womb", for young women who are facing an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and how their hearts were turned to "CHOOSE LIFE" (Deut 30:19) right before our eyes. It was, and continues to be, an amazing blessing. We have seen Him do that over 220 times so far this year!!!! Praise His Mighty Name!

Now, God is showing me more of the same thing just in a new way.

He is allowing me to watch Him open a "Window into HEARTS" as He goes about His business of healing broken ones and showing us the way to CHOOSE LIFE!!! The one He promises in John 10:10.

The thing is, God does not do His work in a vacuum, or a tunnel, or in any one person at any one time.

He is Elohim.

He is Jehovah.

He is Adonai.

He is Sovereign! He is Omnipotent! He is Omni Present!

He is yesterday, today and tomorrow.

He is here. He is there. He is everywhere!!!

God is SO BIG and SO, SO, SO........(trying to capture a big enough word here)... LOVE!!!

He cannot be contained. As He works on one person, He is doing many things with everyone else around at the same time. As I have been privileged to be in the same place, at the same time, that God is doing a work in the hearts of women around me, my heart is being worked on!!

Just when I think I may have gotten rid of some EXTRA BAGGAGE in my life, I experience an ULTRASOUND of the heart and some JUNK is revealed!!!

On our last flight to California, my honey was loaded up with the "extra" stuff that I could not fit into my suitcase. We were going to be gone for 2 weeks for goodness sakes! I girl has STUFF!!! When he went to check his bag, sure enough, we had an overload and we HAD TO PAY! That baggage cost us something!

Yesterday, I had a heart reaction to something going on in my life, something PETTY, SILLY and not even worth talking about here.

My behavior had to do with BAGGAGE---Not people!

I saw some BAGGAGE come to the surface of my heart that needed to be dumped or I was going to have to pay!

Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-37 that what comes out of our mouths reveals what is in our hearts and that by our WORDS we will be acquitted or condemned!

He also says in 1 John 1:9 that is we confess our sins we are forgiven and purified!!

So before this next trip, as a matter of fact, immediately upon becoming aware of my overload, I DUMPED my confession upon the Lord and ask Him to take that junk!!!

Thank you Lord for your Free---No Charge---Handling of our Extra Baggage!!

Now, I have to go pack---for Denver that is!!!

Ready to Serve my California Sisters

2009-06-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings Surrendered Sisters!

I am in HOT, HOT, HOT Modesto, California.

The temp is expected to hit 110-115 degrees today!

We often complain in Tampa about the humidity that comes with our southern/tropical heat. Trust me, sometimes humidity is good! It allows moisture in the lungs and NOSE! A very important fact when your lungs are used to receiving a little bit of liquid upon breaths.

My honey flew out from San Francisco vacation last Wednesday to head back to Florida.

He left me and my daughter Julianna in California.

J and I drove from San Francisco to Stockton, California where we joined the Lifeway Women's Ministry team for a "Fully Loaded" Woman's training event. It was great fun to be with the Lifeway team again and to see so many of my California friends made at past events!!!

One of the COOLEST parts of "Fully Loaded" was hearing from my darling little sister in ministry, Kelly Minter and to be led in worshiping God with my sweet California sisters in Christ by none other than Travis Cottrell!!

WOW!!

If you have not heard about these two please check out their websites.

After Fully Loaded was completed we went back to our hotel for a nap and had the treat of watching a Bible teacher you all may have heard of by the name of Beth Mooore , play a little wiffle ball on the hotel lawn with her band and ministry team. That was cool!

Did anyone get a picture, my camera battery was dead?

Later Friday evening (after she lost the ball game!) Beth brought it as usual, launching her teaching from Revelation 19. The title for the message was "The 7 steps from Bridezilla to Bride". I loved it and was challenged, as usual, to consider every day a bit closer to the "Wedding" of all weddings. The great day that we see our "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" breaking through the clouds riding on a white horse to claim us a His Bride, once and for all!!

In the meantime, we all must apprehend that for which we have been apprehended! (Phil 3:12)

One of the things that I have been "apprehended" to do is to minister God's healing love to those who have been devastated by abortion and to help equip others who want to do the same.

That is what I am doing in Modesto!

Julianna and I left FULL of the great things that happened in Stockton, and headed south to Modesto. We are enjoying a day of rest today (she is sleeping as I blog!).

Tomorrow I am privileged to serve a group of 20 or so ladies whose desire is the same as mine.

I can not wait to pray with them, hug on them, serve them, learn from them and just generally dwell in God's sweet presence together with them!

If you have not registered and live anywhere near this HOT TOWN, please come on over!!

Otherwise, I would be so very grateful if you would just stop at the end of this post and say a little prayer for me, for us, for what God is doing with and through STS.

I am humbled and amazed and my eyes fill with tears of gratitude as I write.

He truly is the Bridegroom and we are His pure and spotless Bride.

As Revelation 19:1 says

HALLELUJAH!!! Salvation, glory and power belong to our God!

California Memories

2009-06-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Greetings from California!
I know that you will not believe this but only a smidgen of the photos that we have taken this past week are on this "Smilebox". My photo frenzy got so bad that honey was only allowing me to take pictures out of the car window as we drove by AMAZING things!!!! This was NOT fun while driving down Lombard.
If you just can't stand it and NEED to see more you just let me know. I have a few more to share.
Tomorrow morning Honey heads home to Tampa and Jules and I are off to Stockton!!
Fully Loaded!!!!

p.s....I do have my camera!

Viewing Tip......Advance photos with arrow on bottom right of photo

Exactly how far IS the East from the West???

2009-06-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

For some reason in my sometimes strange brain, every time I read or hear that scripture, I wonder about that concept. I mean really?

What exactly is the stopping point of the East and the starting point of the West?

In My world….this is the East. "East" being Florida's WEST Coast.

I know that Florida has a more Eastern coast than the one that I live on but my everyday East is the West Coast of Florida. This is our shoreline just a few days ago at Longboat key, Florida.

As smooth as glass. Almost always calm and tranquil.

On most any day you can see your toes on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico as far out as you can walk into it.

This is the shoreline of Monterey Bay, California.

and this...

and this.....

Hey, I could go on and on. I took so many pictures I ran my camera batter down.

We flew into San Francisco and drove Highway 1 into Monterrey Bay. All three of us were asleep by 9pm (12 pm our time) on Thursday night. Honey was up and about at 4:30 am yesterday, which of course was 7:30 am to his brain!

We spent the day exploring Monterey Bay, the Monterey Aquarium which is UNBELIEVABLE! We had lunch watching the kayaker's play with the otters and then headed out to travel the 17 mile shoreline drive from Monterey to Carmel.

WE ended our day in Carmel at dinner with Clint Eastwood at the "Hogs Breath Inn" (doesn't that sound appetizing?)...Well, Clint didn't show up but we enjoyed it anyway!

As far as just how FAR we have come form home, based upon our time in the air on Thursday, it is a REALLY LONG WAY!!!!! We were up at 4:30am EASTERN time to start our journey Over the Gulf, over Texas, over, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada. It was beautiful to see but a long flight. I drew the short straw between honey and Julianna and ended up BETWEEN honey and Julianna. She had the window seat, and my shoulder and he had the aisle, and my other shoulder! Both of them slept most of the flights. I on the other hand, could not move my head so I listened to pod casts for 6 hours!!

I have always wondered why I am not allot smarter with all of the teaching I have listened to and the books I have read.

During our flight I was getting VISIONED UP by Andy Stanley. By the time we arrived I was ready to make an appointment with Governor “terminator” to help him fix things up in his beautiful state.

I had me some IDEAS but I still don't know how far the East is from the West.

I do know it is REALLY, REALLY Far!! Praise His Holy Name!

Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

California here I come---again!

2009-06-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

My suitcase does not have long to gather any cobwebs and neither do I! Praise the Lord!

I head out bright and early tomorrow for sunny California. This will be my second trip to that beautiful state this year. This time I do have a bit more time to play! I will be hanging out in the San Francisco Bay area for a few days before joining an amazing group of women who are thirsty for more and more of God! I am sure to bring home some eternal souvenirs!!

Before I leave I want to remind you about 2 things that I am doing while on the other side of the country.

If you live in California or just LOVE to fly like I do, I would be thrilled to meet you there!

Thursday June 25th and Friday June 26th I will be joining the Lifeway Women's Ministry Team for a Woman's Ministry Event sponsored by Lifeway Women's Ministries called "Fully Loaded"!

FULLY LOADED is a Woman's Ministry Leadership Training and Equipping Conference that is fabulous (if I must say so myself and since this is my blog and no one else can post here--I must!!).

It is not too late to register!

My training is on ministry to women in crisis and it is a blast.

HINT.....Chocolate and hearts are involved!!!

Fully Loaded is the WARM -UP act for none other than Beth Moore's Living Proof Live!!! Beth will be doing her anointed thing on Friday night and Saturday morning.

If you are anywhere even close----You have to come!!! God uses Beth in a way that none can or would want to deny. I, for one, can't wait and I will have my precious daughter with me for the first time at a Lifeway event. We are so excited we can hardly stand it. I have been telling her story at these trainings for 2 years, now is your chance to meet her.

I hope you will join us.

AFTER all of that God time I will be teaching a "Surrendering the Secret" Certified Leader Training in Modesto, California.

I should be FULLY LOADED by then so it will be really good!!

The CL training is to offer additional equipping and HUGS for those who are ministering post abortion recovery in your churches or pregnancy resource centers on the West Coast.

We have plenty of room for more so please go to our website to register for that one day training.

I have to go REPACK now, my stuff just won't all fit into one suitcase. Continental charges for EVERY bag so I was attempting to squeeze some things together. Not working!

My next post will be shared from the distant shores of Carmel by the Sea!

SEE you then!

Take 2 Friends and call me in the morning

2009-06-15T20:02:00.001-07:00

If you have been a regular visitor at "Sweet Tea" you have probably noticed that I can be a bit "spontaneous" with my post.

I try to spend time critiquing my thoughts and didactic words before writing, attempting to be sure it all makes some sense. More often than not I imagine, my rumblings result in a bunch of blotched or bumbled blog-bites that only I can understand or at least, care about.

This may be another one of those. I hope not.

I felt so stirred about this that I started typing my thoughts on Saturday afternoon about 30 minutes before heading out to a party at "GYMBOREE" for 3 G-babies all having a birthday just days apart.

This is the deal, over the past few weeks I battled the blahs big time.

I am not completely sure what seemingly small life issue caused my personal pit visit. I have had a few family things stressing me out, some ministry disappointments that have altered my path and (only those who truly deal with this will understand the enormity of this one), my jeans have been too tight. ALL of them.Whatever.

Yep, I know, you thought I was a spiritual giant right!!?? Wrong!!??

I any case, the final result was a bit of a PIT FALL!

I truly had several bad days when I struggled with what to do to get out of my mind mess. I am not making light of the huge numbers of people, Christians included, who suffer from serious depression. As I write this my heart goes out to those who have had much bigger and much longer challenges.

I purposely spent extra time with God knowing that "in His presence is FULLNESS of Joy" (Ps 16:11) That did help bring me to a place of peace and a reminder that God knows where we are at ALL TIMES!! (Psalm 139)

.
Up/Down, High/Low, Dark/Light.

However, I continued to feel a bit out of sorts.

In all of my reasoning and trying to figure things out, it never occurred to me that I was lonely.

I consider my life pretty full of people and activity, a good marriage, wonderful ministry friends and staff but I often let real friendship time take a back seat to busy.

You know the times of "girl talk", accountability, transparency, good old dumping your guts out and letting them do the same.

As always, God led me to just the medicine that I needed to help pull me up from the dark side into the light!

Over the past few days I have had the chance, rather I should say, I TOOK the chance, to spend some time with 2 special friends--one old friend, the kind who can finish your sentences and knows the history of any given life challenge, and the other with a fairly new friend. We are still getting to know one another and learning more and more about why God has connected our hearts in such a short time.

It reminds me of an old song I learned in Girl Scouts..."Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold!"

I spent over 2 hours with each one over the past few days! Just talking and laughing and sharing a few tears.
By the time I left the second meeting I felt 100% better and ready to take on the world again.

I could actually feel the change in my heart.

That is what prompted me to write this post.

First, we have to be REAL with one another in order to survive this life that we live.

Secondly, my heart just goes out to those who are struggling through depression or just some low times. We all have down times but some, maybe someone who is reading this now, wonder if they will ever see light again.

Sometimes depression is caused by physical changes, sometimes fatigue or pressure or a feeling of failure or loss.

I have learned over the years, when I face one of those days, weeks or seasons to start with some obvious remedies.
Number one for me as a woman who is fully persuaded that God is the source of my joy and peace. I start with HIM!!

I spend extra time sitting in His presence asking Him to reveal any area of my life that might be CAUSING my downfall.

The scripture that I quoted above, Ps 139 closes with "search me o God and see if there is any offensive way in me".

I try to review the 3 W's that lead my life: Word, Worship, Wait.

The WAIT part is always the toughest as I try to keep my heart fixed on God until He leads me and shows me what to do next. Sometimes we just need to stay busy doing things like cleaning a closet, writing a thank note, reading a good book.

Some other obvious life things that I always consider when I can't get out of the pit are some practical health and wellness pieces that sometimes slip out of order in my busy life. Things like eating right, exercise and getting a good nights sleep do amazing things to improve our heart and thought life.

In my recent case, what I discovered I needed was just some good old friendship and girl talk!

Much to my surprise the message in church yesterday was on loneliness.

The scriptures quoted were the very same ones that I had written down on Saturday afternoon to share with you.
It was confirmation to me that regardless of how clever my words come together and regardless of any misspelling that I miss, someone who is reading this feels:

Unwanted, Unneeded and Unnecessary.

If that is you, I pray that God's Word, not mine, will reach down into your heart and draw you up into His light!

I know for a fact that is what He desires to do. (John 10:10)
Get into His presence, remind yourself of HIS promises and for goodness sakes---if you need to share your heart---Call a Friend. My prayer is that you will reach out and find "SILVER or GOLD" and discover as I did, the arms of a friend or two who will reach down into the place you are sitting and pull you up into the light.

God knows what you need today. He cares and He will show you the way up!!

It is not nearly the same but if you leave a comment, I promise to pray for you the minute I read it.

Location! Location! Location!

2009-06-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

My honey and I have lived in 5 different houses since we got married and have learned a bit more about home buying with each move. One thing that we have heard from every realtor we have ever known is that there are 3 rules to buying a new home....

you guessed it...

#1) Location

#2) Location

#3) Location

We have actually been considering moving again. We understand that it is a "buyers market" which is great on the one hand and not so great on the other.

In any case, a fresh understanding of "location" has come to my attention in some funny ways.

During a recent visit to the dazzling city of West Palm Beach, I came across this bargain.....

Front yard.

mmmm.... I don't know, this thing could use some work!!

Back Yard.

OK....it's NOT THAT MUCH Work!

Now that's what I'm talking about!

The house needs a little updating but hey....my son is "The Remodeling Guy" after all!!!

Unfortunately, the BARGAIN price of 2 Million dollars just doesn't work for us.

More recently, I have acquired a new family who has moved in to our home, just a little too close for comfort.

This birds nest is sitting right outside of my kitchen nook french doors. It is nestled in an old planter box that has pond chemicals inside!

What was she thinking!!!??? This little finch Mama needs to get a NEW Realtor!

Last weekend we had some company over and I was showing off our latest tenants and decided to climb up on a chair to peek in at the birdie eggs.

Little did I know that MAMA WAS HOME!!!

Out she flew practically up my nose.

We completely freaked each other out!!

I must say, I will not be asking HER advice when I go lot shopping!

As for location number one......All Critters Would be Welcomed!! Especially those who live IN the water!

If Not you….Then Who???

2009-06-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

25 years ago today a beautiful young woman by the name of Terri Garrett invited a shy, broken hearted, messed-up-life woman like me (actually, it WAS me!) to hear a Bible Study teacher.

The LAST thing that I thought I wanted in my life was to listen to someone talk about the Bible but I did want what I saw in this woman’s face. She glowed and I wanted some glow. She was happy and peaceful and I wanted some joy and peace. She was confidant in who she was and I wanted some confidence.

Terri had no business cards, no office, no ministry building. She had no published books, no facebook and no blog and no website.

She was just a woman who wanted to share Jesus.

She picked messed up me in her car on Saturday morning, 6/9/84, and took me to a one day ladies event being held at her church.

The speaker was Beverly Abel and her topic was how God uses anger.

As far as I knew, I was not angry, but I knew someone who was so I went to see if I could do something to FIX her!

God captured my heart that day and as I listened to every word as the speaker told my life’s story and all of my secrets, (you know how it feels like that when we sit in front of good preaching). At the close of the day she extended an invitation to ask Jesus into our hearts.

I RAN to the alter to surrender my life to Christ.

On that amazing day, I watched and heard that 50 something teacher unfold the word of God tenderly and delicately like we unfold a blanket from around a newborn. She treasured every word and every detail to the point that I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next promise.

She had no business cards, no office, no ministry building. She had no published books, no facebook and no blog and no website.

There was a point in the day when she asked us to write down a prayer. She encouraged us to ask God for something BIG and to expect His answer.

I had lots of BIG things to ask that day (That has not changed in 25 years!).

I needed to have my marriage restored, my children protected, my entire world put back together. I am certain that I asked for those things but the thing that I KNOW I asked for was this:

“Someday Lord, I want to do what Beverly Abel is doing today. I want to teach your word and I want to partner with you to change women’s lives.”

It was also on that day that God placed writing on my heart. I had never desired to write before but I left that day with the knowledge in my heart that one day, I would be a writer and a Bible teacher.

I am walking in my "someday".

What about you?

What has God called you to do?

Where has He asked you to go?

Who has He prompted you to tell about His Love? His Mercy? His Plan?

I thank God for Terri Garrett (wherever she is) and Beverly Abel as well as the many mentors who came along beside me after that day and ROCKED my World!!

³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phil 1:3-6 (NIV)

Happy 25th Birthday to me!! I LOVE being YOUNG!!!

My Devotion to Devotionals

2009-06-05T04:59:00.000-07:00

I would not call myself the most disciplined girl in the world.

For example, I start my diet every day. I have been trying to complete 30 days of the 30 day "Shred" for about 3 months. My garden looks beautiful once in a while, the rest of the time it looks like an interstate embankment.

However, after close to a quarter of a century (HELLO!) of walking with God, there are a few things in my life that have shown me, that when I want to, I CAN stick something out consistently. I can do what I say I will do and actually stick with a task until it is completed.

I have a girlfriend that teases with me when we talk about our "I thought abouts".

Things like, "I thought about sending her a card".

"I thought about calling my sister to say "I love you".

"I thought about cleaning the garage this weekend".

One of the sweet things that I have been disciplined with over the past 25 years, is time in my Prayer Chair.

I have talked about that before on "Sweet Tea" but what I wanted to share this morning is about how I use a Bible Study, like Beth Moore's "Esther" or Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" to help me stay excited about this discipline. I could truly go on and on here listing my Lifeway buddies as well as the many other authors that I follow.

I am always using a Bible study to help me stay in God's Word. The other thing that I use and sometimes carry around me, are Devotional books.

My very favorite, hands down, is "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

Oswald Chambers is a man that was not famous when he was alive. He died in 1917 at the age of 43. Only 3 books had been published with his name on the cover. It was his loving widow "Biddy" who made him famous after his death.

I just have to say here, I think I have been called "Biddy" a few times but it was NOT in love!!!

Anyway, Biddy took the words of her beloved husband and turned them into over 30 published books!!

In any case, Oswald has done as much for my Christian Walk as any writer I can think of who is not in the Bible. He has challenged my perspectives (some of his still don't sit well with me). He has given me hope when I have felt like a failure. He has poured spiritual gasoline on my dreams. He has unwrapped scripture in ways that have helped me understand some things that are beyond my grasp.

I am so thankful for the written word. I have always been utterly awed by the Word of God and amazed at how God reveals Himself and His plan for and to men and women through His inspired and inerrant Word. It is irreplaceable in our Christian walk.

I am so very blessed and grateful that God continues to use men and women today to reveal

His Word, His Work and His ways through mortal man for our eternal good.

I am devoted to devotions!!

Checkers or Chess? What's your game??

2009-06-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

I have used my blog a few times to praise my husband and my children. I hope you do that as well. It's really fun and helps me to stop for a minute to focus upon and appreciate qualities, accomplishments and God moments that are happening every day. A mother needs that.

There are so many times when I have felt like an utter failure with my kids. Times when something I say or do, or something they say or do, shouts. "you are a failure". I have learned over the years that those kinds of voices, the ones that say "failure" "loser" "you will never get this right" are voices that come from the enemy of my life. Satan has no other daily activity than to search the earth looking for someone who will believe his lies about their worth or success in God's assignments.

My friend, Renee Swope, is writing a book about our doubts as women and recently presented a survey on her blog. She was blown away by the responses that she got and was inspired even more to help women overcome this dead end thinking.

All of this to say that in the middle of a discussion I was having with one of my children recently about some things I am working on and attempting to follow God into, the challenge was set before me....

"Mom, it is time that you change your game from checker to chess".

Wow!

That was pretty discerning. You are a pretty smart person!

In the game of checkers we basically RESPOND to the move the other person makes. They move, you move, they jump your checker piece, you loose a bit of territory and work harder to get one of your little pieces to their side of the board so that you can become KING (or Queen in my case).

On the other hand, in a game of Chess, strategic planning is required. The better Chess player is one who is able to look at the Board and read into the thoughts of his or her opponent. The winning player will be the one who is able to consider the game a few steps ahead. It requires SEEING YOURSELF as a winner! It requires a confidence that goes beyond just a move to move response.

There are seasons in life, as my brilliant child declared, when a change of game is called for.

God has so much to say in His Word about our plans. Here are just a couple of them:

Bible Gateway: Plans

One of my favorites is Proverbs 16:3 (Amplified Bible)

³Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

I have some things that I have believe God wants to do with the new stage of my life, with my ministry gifts, with my vision, passion and experience. I have spent a lot of time talking about some of them, waiting for some things to take place, looking for some proof that others believe in me.

I think God has been stirring me to ROLL MY WORKS UPON HIM ALONE.

I think it may be time for me to switch from Checkers to Chess .

How about you??

Is there a dream in your heart? Is there something that you feel God is calling you to step into that you have been afraid to believe? afraid to try? Have you been waiting for someone else to say "You can do this?" or even afraid to admit to people around you that you WANT to do something? Embarrassed that they might think you are off your rocker?

Maybe it's time to change your game and really believe that God has placed His dreams in your heart and that HE alone will make them come to pass but you have to make a move!! You have to be a bit strategic.

Maybe it is time to take a chance.

I know that it is for me!!

ps...Please check out our "Fight Like a Girl" Ministry Giveaway at the "Surrendering the Secret" Blog.

Doors...

2009-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I took a weekend girl trip back to the place of my birth, Savannah, Georgia. I grew up being referred to as a "Georgia Peach". I am defiantly a Southern Girl to the core and was raised on Sweet Tea and Southern Hospitality.

My recent trip to Savannah was one that I have dreamed of taking for many years. I have longed to see this beautiful city that drips with moss and history, from the eyes of a tourist. I have wanted to stay in a downtown B&B which I have not done since my honey and I spent a few days in one of the "less expensive" ones on our honeymoon.

This trip was all that I had hoped it would be and more. (you can read more of the girly details here).

I have learned to expect and to love, lessons, insights and revelation from God in the most UNexpected places and things. This trip was one of those times. God began to stir a word in my heart on that trip that has stayed with me for the past 2 weeks.

As my friend Trisha and I were walking the blocks upon blocks of the city squares it struck me that almost all of the restored houses had big welcoming front doors, almost all painted a bright red. They were beautiful and very eye catching. Very, "hey look at me" bold. I began to snap photo after photo attempting to capture their unique style and eye catching elegance.

The next morning during my quiet time the Lord reminded me of the doors.

I began to look up verse after verse having to do with doors.....

Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;

keep watch over the door of my lips. (I am still carrying this one around on a note card!)

Matthew 7:7

Ask, Seek, Knock!!!!!!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (NIV)

Luke 13:24

He said to them, ²⁴"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (NIV)

John 10:7-9

So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you,

I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (NAS)

2 Corinthians 2:12

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,

Colossians 4:3

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Each of those passages of scripture does some stuff in my heart.

Challenging me to a higher place in my Walk with God.

Expecting more self-discipline empowered by Him.

Asking for more doors to be opened. Expecting more.

Stepping into doors that He has set before without fear of failure, actually knowing that I WILL fail on occassion.

It is amazing to consider the difference between the kinds of "doors" we focus on when we do not understand God's plans for opening and closing doors. The doors of the world that shout "come to me" are success, possessions, acclaim, approval, acceptance, ambition.

God's Doors are so different.

I am still in training for sure. I actually blasted an unrequested opinion the very first day that I wrote that first scripture about the "door of my lips" on a card to memorize! I probably always will be learning to recognize the DOORS that God has opened or closed verses those of the world.

My desire is to not only recognize but to SEEK them, to expect them.

God's doors are opened through humility, gentleness, love, truth, passion, service, patience, forgiveness.

The doors that I seek now lead me into places of character change. Places where I am not as quick to judge and quicker to forgive, not envious but seeking the best for others, not seeking approval of man (or other women) but seeking approval of God and evidence of a renewed heart.

I desire doors that God has opened.

Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

I desire opportunities to be a true Southern Hostess for My Abba Father and His children.

PS...If you would like to OPEN A DOO R for post abortion healing in your church or community, there is some southern hospitality waiting for you at the STS Blog.

Ya'll Come over for a visit!!

Fight Like a Girl...All Over the World!!

2009-05-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday Morning Greetings!!

This title may not be what you expected to find here today.
Maybe you were thinking....sunsets, rolling waves, sweet tea under an umbrella.

Nope, Not today,
Today, my heart has been stirred in other ways by God's Word.

I pray that you will visit me at"Surrendering the Secret" and see what I mean but BEWARE!! There's a challenge there!

Join me will you?

Sweet Tea at Longboat Key

2009-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

It has been 10 days since my last post.

I know, you have all been holding your breath for my return. Life just goes by so fast doesn't it??!! Have I said that before??

My little college girl and I have had sweet tea in 4 states since I last checked in and have ended up back where we started, kind of. Same state anyway.

After leaving a great weekend in Savannah, Trisha and I met up with the rest of Surrendering the Secret Ministry team who had taken the short route by air, in Richmond, Virginia for 4 days filled with amazing ministry moments.

We had a wonderful time at the Heartbeat International Pregnancy Resource Conference. I would love to have you visit the STS blog later this week for the God scoop!!!

It was so much more fun to have some of my family with me this time. Lots of long time ministry friends greeted Julianna as if they knew her, having heard her story for almost 21 years. God did some really COOL stuff!

J and I left Virginia on Friday and drove for 15 hours. We arrived just in time to head out again the next day to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Longboat Key.

Longboat has been featured on Sweet Tea before as it has been our family place of R&R for over 30 years.

We are blessed each morning to look out over the Gulf of Mexico from the balcony and windows of our condo. The sky always seems to be some shade of bright pink as God turns the moon into the sun, then the sun into the moon, one more time.

Sea Gulls constantly fill the air with discussion about their morning "catch", the latest gossip being spread across the waves as well as all of the days many possibilities.

Sky, beach, water, Sky, beach, water.......oh the choices!!!

Pelicans bounce on the water as if their bodies are filled with cork and based upon their constant eating maybe some of them are.

This is the kind of place where you are able to forget about everything but God and dreams.

It is an honor to be allowed to experience it for another sweet season.

We never, never take it for granted!!

How could we?

Sweet Tea in Savannah

2009-05-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

It is not difficult to find REAL Sweet Tea in Savannah, Georgia.

I have heard it said that drinking sweet tea is one of the oldest and most exceptional Southern traditions. Dolly Parton's character in Steel Magnolia's called it "the house wine of the South". I say AMEN to that!

Savannah knows how to make sweet tea!! As Southern as Grits and Azaleas, Sweet Tea is a Savannah staple. I was born in this charming historic city and think that I possibly had sweet tea in my baby bottle.

It seems appropriate to begin my summer travels here in a place where one minute I am traveling down memory lane and the next I don't know what street I am on as so many things have changed.

Tricia Heflin, one of our Surrendering the Secret National Trainers, flew into my Tampa home from her Texas home on Thursday to join me for a road trip to the Heartbeat International Conference in Richmond, Virginia. We decided that if we had to drive 1500 miles we may as well throw some fun girl time into the mix.

We have both broken into our piggy banks and are staying at the Eliza Thompson House in Historic Savannah.

It is one of the cities oldest and most elegant Bed and Breakfast Inns. It is within walking distance to shops, antique stores, museums, civil war memorials, great restaurants and absolutely gorgeous old churches.

We have been treated like the Daughters of the King that we are, through the gracious southern hospitality of this B&B staff. From the moment we checked in, we have been spoiled. Starting with Afternoon Tea shortly after our arrival yesterday, the blessings continued right up until we found our beds turned down at dusk with little chocolates on the pillows. The beds are actually so high they have little staircases to help you crawl in. We woke to the smell of hot coffee brewing up the staircase from the garden courtyard this morning. We started the day with about 5 miles of walking before breakfast.

Savannah's Historic District is 1 mile wide and 26 blocks of cobblestone and brick streets, long. I think, based on how my legs and feet feel right now, that we stepped on a good portion of those bricks and stones today!

Although we just missed the peak of Spring when the Dogwood trees are filled with tiny white flowers which I LOVE, and full Azalea bushes that make the entire city glow pink, we were treated beautiful weather and the thick aroma of fully blooming magnolia trees, houses painted with Confederate Jasmine and bright red doors!!

It has been a sweet blessing but as we know, B&B's are not the REAL world!!
Right!!!!????

We will be packing up and heading north tomorrow morning, right after breakfast!

In my Car!!

It's a good thing Cracker Barrel has sweet tea!

A Mothers Greatest Hour

2009-05-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

I know, Mother's Day has officially passed. Some would think,

but not me.

The truth is that "Mother's Day" is any day that causes a mother think that somewhere, somehow amongst all the mistakes, all the bad days, all the feelings of insecurity or questioning, that somehow she must have done something VERY RIGHT as a Mom.

I seem to be enjoying a special season of watching my grown children as if from God's angle. Watching them live life in ways that make me incredibly proud to be their Mom.

I gushed last post over my daughter Julianna's precious prayer for a little girl this past weekend at church. It was such a blessing to watch her respond from the "abundance of her heart" and sweetly but powerfully pray for a sick child.

I thought it might be time to give equal "gushing" time to my boys.

One of my favorite things as the Mother of young men is to watch my sons be Dads.

Oh my goodness. They are both AMAZING Dad's.

They are tender and wise and very much involved in every part of the lives of their children. They both have been blessed with amazing wives who love them, laugh with them and make beautiful homes with them.

Our youngest son, and middle child, Andy, has 3 little ones under 5. The youngest 2 are less than a year apart. They have their hands full but are doing a wonderful job. Andy is serving along side me on a day to day basis in full time ministry. It would take more than a single post to tell how THAT came to be. It was the last thing in all the world that I expected but has been an incredible blessing and a great honor. As Executive Director, he leads our Staff of close to 20 employees and is doing a marvelous job. My favorite moment of any time in the office is hearing Andy pray for his team as we serve God together. It makes me cry every time. His vision for LIFE and his commitment to God and family is a joy to watch.

Our firstborn, Tim, AKA Remodeling Guy, is a fireball of talent and creativity. He is always surprising us with his talent and passion. Tonight, when I stumbled over to his family blog, Foreverwhereever, I found this post.....

As I said in my comment to Tim,

my cup runneth over!!!

Is 59:21

²¹ "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.

Do come back on Friday. I'll be serving SWEET TEA from a Savannah B&B!

Days of Delight

2009-05-12T04:20:00.000-07:00

Early this year I shared the verse of scripture that I felt God had given me for 2009. I have it on my refrigerator and in my prayer journal but more importantly, I have it engraved upon my heart.

Ps 37:23

The Lord Directs the steps of the Godly, He Delights in every Detail of their lives.

Honestly sometimes I wonder if God's word could possibly get any richer, any more comforting, any more promising. I love knowing that God directs my steps as I yield my life to Him. As I intentionally offer it over to Him, I can depend upon His leading my way.

I have just completed 4 amazing speaking engagements. I was so drained by Sunday afternoon that, after a wonderful Mothers Day Brunch with my own Mom, I came home and slept for 3 hours.

God showed up at each event in a BIG way!! Each time was different.

My sweet Julianna prayed for a young girl at our last church service who had been born premature like her but was suffering some serious physical issues. I stood back and cried as I watched Julianna go to work! I was so blessed by her gentle prayers. The little girl also cried as Julianna prayed for her.

As I have "recovered" and rested in God's Goodness. I have been thinking so much about all of people that I prayed with over the weekend. I remembered that God was just as DELIGHTED watching ME, HIS daughter pray, as I was at watching my daughter pray!!!

Most of those I prayed for were in great need of remembering and being encouraged in that very truth!!

So many stories of sickness, disease, enemy activity.

A 12 year old son at home under hospice care.

A husband who left for another woman after 30 years of marriage.

A prodigal child.

Lost Jobs. Lost Hope.

It is so unusual for me to have someone come up and say "Pat, will you pray with me, God is doing amazing things in my life!!". I love it when it does happen but unfortunately, it is rare.

I long to see the day when all of God's people are walking in victory. I long to see the enemy of our lives be put in his final resting place. No longer able to stir the heartbreak and the tears that he ignites in the lives of the Godly.

I also long for the days when the people of God truly know His Word and can claim it for all it os worth!!!

We need to Know His Promises!!!

We need to Walk in His Truth and stop listening to the voice of the liar! The one who has only one agenda, that of stealing our Days of Delight!

I am reminded this morning to keep my hope in God and keep on praying!!

Julianna and I begin packing today. She will be traveling with me all Summer!!

What a treat!

Expect Sunflowers! I do!!

I hope to see some of you at one of our stops and have a chance to pray with you!!

Check out my Speaking Tab for locations and send me an email if you can come!!

We will be in Virginia, California, Denver, North Carolina and Wisconsin!!!!!

Surely, you are close to one of those! Let me know!

Mama Said ther'd be Days Like this, ther'd Be Days Like this Mama said!!!

2009-05-05T15:57:00.001-07:00

That title made you sing didn't it!!!??? I am sitting at my computer serenading myself and thinking about watching "Father of the Bride".

Anyway......

I had an appointment this afternoon with a friend. As we were parting she reminded me that we had not seen one another since October!! That could not be right....could it???

The entire SEASON of Fall had passed---Thanksgiving, Christmas, A New Year, another Birthday!!! How fast the days go by.

When I realized earlier tonight that almost a week has passed since I said hello from "Sweet Tea" or spent some time visiting some of my favorite bloggers, my friend's comment rang true again.

Note: I did not say "commented" on my favorite blogs. Most often I do just what you all do, I peek in the windows, enjoy hearing about your lives, the blessings, the photos and the recipes!!

I have spent my past few days working on coming days.

I have 2 speaking privileges this weekend and my "baby girl' comes home from college to begin a summer of traveling WITH ME..Mama!!! Yeah!!

And speaking of MAMA....It is Mothers Day weekend.

I had BIG plans to kickoff a Celebration of Motherhood here on Sweet Tea by sponsoring a "BLOG CARNIVAL", I am told it would be called. The trouble is, well, time flew by!

In any case, I still wanted to share a bit of public praise and honor for my MOM!!

This is her, Christine Goldberg Shuman, on a trip to the mountains that she took with me and Honey last Fall.

My Mom is an amazing woman and one of the few people who faithfully read my blog so I know she will see this!!

She was married to my Dad, who was her high school sweetheart, for over 50 years when he left us to be with Jesus six years ago!!

The two of them gave birth to 4 daughters. ME FIRST!! I grew up being called their "oldest" daughter. I am still bitter about that! Just kidding, of course! My next younger sister is actually the same age as me for a month!! Now that is the sign of a "healthy" marriage!

My Mom is incredibly creative, wise, generous and gracious. She has always put her family above all else and still does today. She is a true Proverbs 31 Woman and is greatly admired and deeply loved.

She has owned several businesses of her own, made 4 matching dresses for every occasion while my sisters and I were little girls, always made my Dad feel like he was King of the hill, because he was to her. She has always been there for my sisters and me as well as all of our children and now children's children.

This is her with her Granddaughters.

God has honored my Mom by having ALL OF US---Every single one---4 Daughters, 4 Son-in-Law's, 9 Grandchildren and I have lost count, Grandchildren's Children, ALL--right here next to her.

Unbelievable in today's culture.

I WANT THAT!!!

We have most all Holidays together and celebrate life as a BIG CROWD on numerous special occasions.

She still believes in Santa Clause so he shows up at her house for a Christmas Eve party every year and has for as long as I can remember!

My Mom will be in the church when I speak this weekend, cheering me own and praying me out of telling "too much" or not enough!! Right after I am done, it will be my greatest Mothers Day honor to sit and have lunch with her!!

Time does fly but as busy as life gets, I pray that never miss telling her how much I love her, time and time again!!!

I love you Mom!

Psalm 127:4
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are DAUGHTER'S born in one's youth.

How about you??? I would love to peek into your blog window and hear about your Mom!

Fix Bayonets Girls!!

2009-04-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

I know that a discussion of "Bayonets" would not be something that you would normally associate with "Sweet Tea".

There is however, a Time for Tea and a Time for Target practice!!

I am in one of those TARGET PRACTICE times.

I shared a few posts back that I have been in a bit of a season of "warfare". I don't mean to spiritualize everything or even focus on my personal challenges. In comparison to some of the battles that some people around me are fighting, mine is a cakewalk.

The "battle" that I have been waging at an advanced level over the past few weeks has taken place in my own skin. Mostly between my ears but often in my mouth!

At the end of last year I began to wonder just how long my season of new ministry surprises was going to last without running into some advanced warfare.

Now do not get me wrong. I believe that Jesus died for our ABUNDANT LIFE!! I am a firm WORD stander and claim all of the promises found within these pages to be 100% accurate, believable and achievable, in THIS Lifetime.

The truth is that we DO HAVE AN ENEMY.

As defeated as he is, he is a pain in our lives!! His entire daily activity revolves around the mission to "STEAL! KILL! DESTROY!!". I am not ignorant of his tactics nor do I let them scare me away from pursuing ALL that God is, says and promises.

I purpose to keep my spiritual muscles strong, to know God's Word AHEAD of the Battle and to have it ready to aim and fire as needed.

There are times, however, when I feel a bit like I have stepped out on a hill in enemy camp and have bullets coming at me from every direction!

This morning, during my prayer walk, I heard God remind me of a Military Command He gave me a few years back.

The order is:

"FIX BAYONETS!!"

A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife-, dagger-, sword-, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on, over or underneath the muzzle of a riflebarrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is a close quarter battle combat or last-resort weapon.

When I take a "prayer walk" I normally take either my worship ipod, scripture printed out on paper for memorizing or some other tool that will keep my "aim" focused!

Today, I picked up a well worn prayer tool that I have had for many years called "Prayers That Avail Much".

I lifted up my "bayonet" and began to shoot!!

This was my "Personal Confession" (page 29) (personalized version).

Feel free to cut and paste it onto your own prayer walk paper!!

Jesus is Lord over my LIFE, my spirit, soul and body.

He has been made unto me WISDOM (for those many things that seem to be spinning around in my head (should I? shouldn't I??), righteousness (for the constant struggle to do, say and FEEL the right thing), sanctification and redemption!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I do not want!! (the book deal, the speaking invitation, the relationships that challenge me, the constant approval of others, those jeans to zip!!)

My God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in Glory.

I do not fret or have anxiety about anything (the financial needs of ministry, the challenges being faced my my adult children as they follow God, the condition of our Nation and our World!!)

I am the Body of Christ, I am redeemed (my favorite word) from the curse, because Jesus bore my sickness (and Susan's and Jeanette's and Jim's and the others on my prayer list) and carried our disease in His own body. By His stripes, we are healed. I forbid any sickness or disease to operate in my body. Every organ, every tissue of my body functions in the perfection in which God created it to function. I honor God and bring Him Glory through my body.

I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings ans purposes of His heart!

I am a believer and not a doubter.

Jesus is the AUTHOR and developer of my faith.

The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit and His love ABIDES in me richly.

I KEEP MYSELF IN THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT< class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">the wicked one touches me not!

I have a SWORD at his throat!!

I hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. I hear MY FATHERS VOICE!!! the voice of a stranger, I will not follow.

I roll my works upon the LORD, I commit and trust them wholly to Him.

He will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to His will!

Praise His gracious name!!

AMEN!!!!

Bull's Eye!!!

BTW......the winner of my "Surrendered Sister" Newsletter Book Giveaway is....Stephanie at "TRUTHSHARER". Visit her blog today, you will love her in"sight"!!

Please let me know (if you have not already) if would like to get my next newsletter!