I am excited and honored to be a part of the amazing new film “October Baby”  coming to theaters on March 23rd.

Check out our website for a preview of the movie and be able to locate a theatre near you!

You will find my Bible Study “Surrendering the Secret” listed under “resources”

We have several events listed on our STS website that partner me with the beautiful actress, Shari Rigby, who plays a life changing role in the movie.

If you live in the area we would love to see you there!

March 11—-Little Rock, Arkansas

March 27-29—-LosAngelas, California

April 1—-Dallas, Tx

April 22—–Tulsa, Oklahoma

By the Way–If you would like to have me and Julianna speak at your church; adoption agency or pro-life ministry contact my Assistant at jkittredge@awpm.net or leave a comment below!

Every Life IS Beautiful!!

We have a little girl dress up box in our guest room upstairs. It was started for our daughter Julianna when she was just a wee babe and is now well over 20 years old. It is filled with priceless and sparkly treasures.

It has Tiaras and hot pink Boa’s. It has ballet slippers and tap shoes and clear glass high heals. It has evening gowns and cowgirl suits; capes for super hero want-to-be’s and Dr scrubs. It has Karate outfits and Tutus. It is filled with dreams and possibilities.

One day when our firstborn “G” girl was about 4 or 5 years old, she bounced down the stairs all dressed up in creamy pink tights, ballet slippers and a sweet pink dancing leotard with a frilly skirt.

She presented her “Imagine Me” self as a Prima Donna Dancer squarely in front on me and announced

“G”-PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!!”

Oh my.

I wasn’t sure weather to cry tears of adoration or burst into Giggles of “G” Glee. I wisely chose neither and fixed my most serious face right on her and declared that I was “READY to BE AMAZED”!

AMAZE ME my beautiful little treasure.

So she did.

She began to twirl around in a wobbly circle. She twirled and twirled and twirled until she kind of plopped backwards on the steps in an exhausted heap of pink lace.

At this point I could not contain, neither the tears nor the giggles.

It was a moment a “G” does not forget.

Habakkuk 1:5 says

“Look at the nations and watch and BE UTTERLY AMAZED for I am about to do something IN YOUR DAYS that you would not believe, even if you were told”

In this verse from the Bible, I kind of imagine that scene as I imagine a very tickled and excited God, position His majestic self squarely in front of me, cup my chin in His strong hands and say daughter—Prepare yourself to be UTTERLY AMAZED.

Habakkuk 1:5 is the word God gave me for 2012.

I felt like God was reminding me—

“Look Pat! Don’t miss this! Pay attention! Get ready! Be excited! I am about to do something in your day that you are hardly gonna believe.”

It has been my experience that God is always doing “a new thing” but we have to LOOK and WATCH and PREPARE to be Amazed.

Let’s Do it!

Let’s expect, BY FAITH, to see God do something AMAZING….

In our Nation.

In our church.

In our ministry.

In our marriage.

In our homes.

In our families.

In our hearts and in our lives!

And when we see it, we will cry and we will giggle.

Because that’s the kind of God we love.

 

 

Can I get a witness?

Have you ever spoken those words–or at least thought about speaking them?

Have you ever felt that you had taken about as much as you could of life? relationships? expectations? pointless efforts? unmet needs? rejection? heartbreak?

I definitely have.

We are not alone. The pages of the Bible are filled with crash and burns.

There is one particular story of a man called Elijah that kind of spun my life into a new orbit a little over a month ago. You can read about it here.

The heart of Elijah’s legacy unfolds is in the book of 1 Kings 17-19. My particular focus is found in Chapter 19:3-13.

Elijah was not a failure, in fact he was living a life of Kingdom work. He was walking in success and victory. Still, he crashed. Reading his story sparked my desire for a season of refreshment and hearing that sweet “small whisper” of God’s voice. I was inspired to begin my very own personal 40 Day journey out from under the Broom Tree I was leaning on.

I started my journal journey on Thanksgiving Day and will “complete” it on January 2. I have loved this process so much that I plan to start it fresh again once I reach my 40th day.

Would you like to join me?

I have promised to share my outline and notes with those who sign up for my E-Mail list.

I took a whole bunch of time during the rush of the Holidays to write all 40 days of my notes and get them ready to share when my own computer ignorance ate them up. ALL GONE. Disappeared. I wanted to GIVE UP Imagine That.

Fortunately, my journey has revealed some fresh truth about warfare; do-overs and comebacks!

I knew I had to start over. It was part of the journey for me.

SO….I have the First Ten Days Ready and will complete the next 10 BEFORE you do the first!!

If you have already sent me your email, check your in-box.

If you want to Join the Journey (January 2 would be a great day to start!!)

Send me your email address! Let’s do this

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature is stirring, Not even a mouse..

Each one is exhausted, not a bone left unworn.

The candles are ugly and the paper is torn.

 

The stockings are laying all strewn on the floor

And the wreath is lopsided on half the frontdoor.

The presents are packed and ready to take back..

The ripped open boxes are shoved in a stack.

 

The parties and eating and shopping are done.

All captured in photos of feasting and fun

….to be stored on computers and seen by no-one.

 

The Christmas tree branches are shedding and brown,

The angels and stars are all looking down.

The lights are all drooping, the ones that still work..

With fragments of broken bulbs on the tree skirt.

 

Another year over…

Only memories to keep

Other than some casserole left to reheat.

 

As I think of the days from Thanksgiving to now…

I can’t help but wonder…

How?

How did we do Lord, in our reflections of You?

Our worship?

Our silence?

The honor you’re due?

Were you pleased with our praise songs?

Our Holiday plays?

Did you smile at the focus on YOU all these days?

Did you see us kneel before you and say….

I love you My Jesus..

Just Like every day????

PKL

When it’s all been said and it’s all been done….

He’ll ask me, do you know your Savior?

Do you know my Son?

 

Create your own photo album

Greetings favored woman of God! The Lord is with you!!    Luke 1:28    NLT

Wow. Now THERE is a divine appointment.

What precious words. Priceless. Timeless. Life Changing.

Can you just imagine Mary’s first response to those words? As a woman we sometimes yearn for words of blessing and affirmation to fall upon our ears.

We long for love.

We serve for strokes.

We perform for praise.

We all need to hear words of encouragement. We need to hear words that remind us that we matter to someone.

I feel certain young Mary’s attention was first captured by the kind words of her angelic visitor, THROUGH HER HEART, rather than her ears. She was possibly torn between running towards him to soak up the sweetness of his greeting and running for her life from a big, tall man with a sword! Don’t you think?

My desire is to greet you today with words that tell you that you matter to me. I pray that you will receive my words of greeting as very personal and sincere because they are.

You are reading my blog right now. We are experiencing a divine appointment right now. Of course, I will never know you visited if you don’t TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS! hint, hint

My guess is that we have met somewhere-sometime. We may share a “virtual” friendship via Blog/Facebook or Twitter but honestly, I am one of those people who really treasures those relationships. While keeping in perspective the true life level they dwell in, I have had many a day when a sweet word of encouragement came to me from someone I only know through one of these avenues. However, I think if we are not a related by blood or marriage (I love you guys!) most of us have met face to face in a workshop, a church, a conference, or a retreat.

This year has taken me to  (in no particular order)

Alaska

Ohio

Arkansas

W Virginia

New Mexico

California

Maine

Pennsylvania

North Carolina

Georgia

Michigan

Colorado

Virginia

New York and of course, Florida

Regardless of how our paths have crossed in life, I truly believe they have crossed somewhere that God Himself placed or allowed.

Divine appointments.

My calendar for next year is filling up quickly and I am excited! I want to see you again!

PLEASE watch my website for updates on dates and times. I would be so honored to have you join me at one of them.

A few places I can tell you right now as you begin to fill in your own calendar:

I will be attending a few Lifeway “You Lead” events next year. These are leadership training events that are connected to Living Proof Live with Beth Moore (you’ve heard of her right? J). The You Leads are held on Thursday and Friday BEFORE Beth. We are the warm up act!

I have 4 “Imagine Me..Set Free Conferences” booked this year and have a few spots left in the Fall for one or two more. Let me know if you are interested in bringing a Freedom Weekend to your church!

And, speaking of DIVINE APPOINTMENTS! We are thrilled to announce a PRECIOUS addition to our STS leadership team this year. She will be joining me for some adventures around the nation as a Spokesperson and Ambassador, her name is Shari Rigby.

Shari plays the role of the Birthmother in a POWERFUL new movie that will be in theaters in March called “October Baby”. We have been asked by the producers of the film to be a part of a resource team for those who are looking for healing and hope after seeing the movie. At their request, we are setting up a 10 city tour of Surrendering the Secret Training events; Couples Retreats and STS Freedom Weekends that will follow the movie release. Watch our brand new website over the coming weeks for details.

I am looking forward to lots of DIVINE APPOINTMENTS in 2012.

I am certain some will be good and some not so good but one thing I know–The greatest gift of my life—BY FAR (next to my own family) is the blessing God has given me of meeting and loving on so many Surrendered Sisters in Christ. Honestly, thinking about you makes me teary.

I hope so much to see you face to face in 2012. I would be honored to have your support in some of what God has us doing. Let me know if you can be anywhere, anytime!

For now, I just wanted to wish you a TENDER Christmas, filled with divine moments and words of encouragment!

I wish you peace.

I wish you unexpected words of affirmation and love.

I wish you hope and dreams for 2012.

I wish you faith.

I wish you friends.

My love to you my Surrendered Sister and FAVORED WOMAN of GOD!

By the Way—I am offering a FREE GIFT of a Step by Step Guide for a “40 Day Journey: Enjoying the Presence of Jesus” if you send me your email address. Please let me know if you want one!

If you have already signed up, I didn’t forget you. I tried to send it earlier this week and it disappeared from my Docs file so I have to redo it! It’s my Christmas promise!!

 

Sometimes I miss my quiet times.

Even smack in the middle of a 40 day Journey with Jesus, sometimes I miss sitting still in my Prayer Chair.

I miss stopping everything for a few quiet moments of just Him and Me.  No distractions other than my journal; a devotional book or Bible Study; my coffee or hot tea and maybe some worship music but usually just a ticking clock.

Quiet time.

We were designed to desire it.

Still, sometimes I miss a whole day when I sit quietly with my Bible and allow God’s Word to work it’s way into my day.

I miss taking time to allow Him to heal me from yesterday’s bruises.

I miss taking time to allow Him to fill in my heart holes left from selfish desires, stinking thinking, dead-end trails.

When I do that, when I let busyness; poor planning; oversleeping; the demands of life–STEAL my quite time, my day is never complete.

Something is missing IN me and OUT of me.

Something I am absolutely aware of.

It’s no accident ya know.

We were designed that way.

It’s nothing God takes FROM me–He is filled with GRACE and LOVE and always AVAILABLE.

No, it’s something I STEAL from myself.

A chance to be held; to be restored; to be heard; to be led; to be directed; to be encouraged; to be taught; to be equipped.

We were DESIGNED to DESIRE God’s personal attention. He created us to crave Him.

It’s a gift.

I didn’t miss it today. How about you? There is still time

I have set aside some QUIET time this week to put the finishing touches on my “40 day Journey with Jesus Guide”.

Sign up for my email list just a little above these words on the left side of this blog and I’ll send you a copy!

Blessings!

“I have all my Christmas gifts bought and wrapped” a girlfriend of mine nonchalantly announced as she lazily swirled the last of her Starbucks White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha around in her cup. Her entire world seemed focused on no more than capturing the last drop of indecency it contained.

I chocked on mine.

“You WHAT!!??” I challenged. I don’t even have my Thanksgiving decorations taken down.

She proceeded to tell me that she picks up gifts all year as her children and grand babies ask for things. She actually begins shopping and storing gifts with the after Christmas sales, even getting her Christmas wrapping paper for the NEXT YEAR on sale.

Oh my.

The thing that struck me most about this conversation was that while my head is spinning realizing I have less than 3 weeks, deep inside I was actually at peace.

Peace.

The Reason for the Season.

As I sit in my prayer chair this morning, I am on day 14 of a 40 Day journey of celebrating the Presence of God.

It all started with the encounter with Jesus I shared on THIS post.

After spending an entire Sunday a few weeks ago, refreshing my mind on the story of Elijah and his crash and burn under a Broom Tree, I felt God telling me that I needed to take so time to rest and hear from Him. To listen. Really listen for His instructions about some upcoming things He was about to do.

I needed to take some time to hear God’s still small voice right in the midst of lots of noise that often comes with the Holiday season.

I asked to Lord to let me start this journey on January 1st but He clearly said no–so I started my 40 Day journey on Thanksgiving Eve.

It has not been an easy task but it has been a precious one. A gift.

Quiet is tough to find during this season.

There are many things going on around us–just like Elijah–things that feel kind of like earthquakes; raging winds; sizzling fires–the still small voice is tough to hear but it is not lost. I am hearing God’s voice in every conversation. Every prayer chair moment. Every encounter. Every thought.

I surrendered my life to Christ at 30 years old. Since that day, Christmas has never been the same.

Every year I am more and more aware go the precious Gift of Christ and the amazing promises of His Word. Truly all I need. Things like PEACE. Who can buy that? Who can wrap it? Jesus says He offers His PEACE constantly–continually–abundantly.

You can’t “store it up”. It is received Day-by-Day.

A priceless gift.

I want my gifts to come from God and I want my gifts to GO FROM GOD.

Peace. Joy. Passion. Vision. Love. Self-Control. Gentleness. Kindess. Hope.

If you are like me and ever aware of your “neediness”‘ and the great needs of those you love–Needs that can not be bought, I hope you will join me in pressing in to be more aware of HIS PROVISION.

Philippians 4:6-7, 19

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

and

Hebrews 4:16

¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Blessings this day friend.

Listen for the still small voice

If you will send your email address to me at  playton@awpm.net or leave a comment below-I will send YOU a Step by Step guide for pursuing your own “Broom Tree” Journey.

I woke up this morning considering the gift of smell.

This is a season of sweet smells.

Christmas Tree Pine.

Goodies baking in the oven.

Scented Candles.

Fireplace flames.

I recently read in USA Today, that when interviewed about what they would be willing to sacrifice in exchange for the use of electronics, a large majority of teens choose iPods and Facebook over the gift of  SMELL!

WOW! Can you imagine??

Think about it—

Newborn Babies.

Fresh Cut Grass.

Lavender………

Of course, this list is truly endless.

Traded for what? A text? A Facebook update?

I have just returned from an adventure in the snow covered mountains of Colorado where a different kind of smell filled the luscious log cabin that embraced the prayers, worship and dreams of 9 women for 5 days.

I will never forget it.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says:

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

God lead us into His Plan for Surrendering the Secret for 2012.

His plan….He wants us to SMELL GOOD for Him.

We are assigned to draw—those who are perishing because of lost choices; shattered dreams; empty arms—to Him.

I am certain we are NOT “equal” in our own strength but we are very SWEET when covered by HIS anointing and power.

That is a SMELL I would not sacrifice for ANYTHING!

We are ready to smell “The Fragrance of LIFE!”

How about you?

What has God shown you lately about your assignment? your calling? your next steps?