amy patton

live right. love well.

amy patton
live right. love well.

Sounds good, but what does it really mean? Our world, and social media especially, is full of buzzwords and catch phrases and meaningless ramblings. A lot of people talk a lot but never actually SAY anything. That is one of my biggest pet-peeves and why I swore I would NEVER start a blog. I actually said those words to humans and to God. My friend Kim says “you know when you tell God you aren’t going to do something, that’s code for YOU ARE TOTALLY DOING THAT THING!”

It all started one lazy summer afternoon while the kids played out back in the sprinkler and the moms sat on the patio, sipping a big glass of awesome. My friend asked about how my writing was going, and then threw in “you should start your own blog!” To which I said “Um, no.” But something stirred in my heart and I knew this would not go away. When the Lord tells me to do something I know I’m not ready for, my stomach does what I call the “rollercoaster flop.” So my insides flipped and flopped like a fish out of water over the next few days while I wrestled with God and told Him what a horrible idea this was. You can imagine how well that went over. Finally, I waved the white flag and said “Ok Lord. I am willing but I’m not ready.”

That’s my response when the Lord is asking me to step out and do something so totally above my pay grade. I know that what He is asking of me is for my good and my obedience is always the open door. I just need a hot minute to get my heart and mind around all this means. I need to give Him space to prepare me for what comes next.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.”

What a great, comforting promise from the Lord Almighty. But some days, I don’t wanna be strong and courageous. I wanna crawl back under the covers and be very, very not brave. Writing is a passion of mine and something I LOVE to do. When it’s just me and my laptop, I am on Cloud 9. It’s fabulous with a side of awesome sauce. Then there is the day that my writing goes live for all the humans to read and I instantly feel like I’m walking around without my skin on. I don’t write for acceptance or approval, but I also don’t love the idea of rejection on a massive scale.

So why do it? Because obedience is the price of admission to the amazing things God is doing. I can sit in the cheap seats way in the back and watch thru binoculars or I can pay up and sit front row to the healing, redemptive work He is doing in me and my people. I cannot play it safe and make a difference in the world.

Obedience. That is the heart behind Live Right Love Well. Living right means following God’s design for my life. Loving well means giving all the people the same love Jesus gives me. This is the space I feel the Lord has asked me to share my journey, both the victories and the colossal failures. We're all just broken people. If you expect polish or perfection here, bye Felicia. My life is broken and beautiful and complicated and wonderful and messy. That is what you will find here.

I’m just a girl, standing in front of a mirror, asking God if He can use me. His answer for me is the same answer for you. Yes. Absolutely. There is nothing He can’t and won’t use. Obedience is the ticket to ride. If He can use my addiction, my financial failures, my rebellion and my horrible taste in men, He can use whatever you bring Him too. First, He shows us the reality of our mess. He gently works with us to bring healing and wholeness to the broken places. Then He makes us brave and asks us to share it so we can bring others to the same place of freedom. Come be brave with me, please. Its way more fun than being brave alone.

 

 

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