“When did my life fall so far out of balance?” I screamed while seraching through piles of papers on my desk and under my desk. My husband came to the top of the stairs to see what all the madness was about.

“I can’t find the papers I need.” I complained.

“Don’t you have that information on your Mac?”

“Yes, but I can’t reprint it because I forgot to pick of ink for the printer.”

“Micca” my husand said tenderly. “What you need is a life coach.” He was right. I was over scheduled, over committed, and overwhelmed. At some point, I had become stuck in a rut and couldn’t get out. Sound familiar?

Good news! My dear friend, Pat Layton, has written a book called, Life Unstuck. Through her book, Pat has become my life coach, leading me through scipture, helping me find balance, and teaching me to fall in love with God all over again. Today, I’m interviewing Pat about her book. And, I’M GIVING AWAY A COPY! Leave a comment below to enter to win!

1. Pat, what led you to write your book Life Unstuck?

Life Unstuck is the result of over 30 years of life transformation! My first time reading Psalm 139 as a new Christian, led me on a journey to personal healing from a very broken past that had climaxed in having an abortion at age 23. God used the 24 verses of Psalm 139 to show me His redeeming love and grace and those words became the roots God used to lead me into full time ministry. Very soon after receiving my own healing God led me to open Tampa, Florida’s first crisis pregnancy center and write what is now an international post abortion recovery curriculum called Surrendering the Secret published by Lifeway in 2008. A few years ago God began to stir the Life Unstuck message in my heart which resulted in this new book!

2. What’s different about Life Unstuck compared to all the other books out there about God?

Life Unstuck is basically a life coaching, life FREEDOM plan using the 24 verses of Psalm 139! In this prayer/poem David addresses God in a direct and personal manner using the pronoun “YOU” 11 times twisted together with the use of the word “ME” 13 times! Life Unstuck breaks down this interaction between David and God and shows us how to apply it’s rich revelation to our own lives.

3. Your book is filled with scriptural truth. Can you share a sample or two of these verses and why you chose them?

Verse one kicks off the rich depths of Psalm 139 and prepares us for a deep dive. “Oh Lord you have SEARCHED ME and you KNOW ME!” David gets us at “hello”. God knows you, He sees you. Everything about you! How you think, how you talk, where go and who you go with! At first look, I was not so sure this was actually GOOD NEWS! I have done a whole lot of stuff in my lifetime that I don’t like thinking about being in front of a Holy God. As I have allowed God to work this verse out in my life and heart, I have come to find complete hope and peace in those words, God KNOWS me and Loves me Still!

4. Who did you write your book for? Who can benefit from this message?

My dedication page is “for the woman who secretly suspects there is nothing more but desperately dreams there is. The bottom line is, this book is ONLY those women who ever find themselves STUCK somewhere in life—relationships, finances, marriage, ministry, parenting….ONLY HER! J

5. What was your goal when you started writing Life Unstuck? Was it achieved?

My hearts desire with this book is to share the good and complete love of God with every woman who reads my book. I want her to know “God SEES YOU and has a plan for your peace, purpose and passion”! I also hope to inspire a feeling of community and conversation with other women. Yes, it was achieved, at least for me because I FEEL that already from this book!

6. What do you feel is the greatest obstacle people must overcome in order to make a deep relationship with God a priority?

Overwhelmed schedules and misplaced commitment. In other words, letting life AROUND of God overtake life IN Him!

7. What has been the biggest answer to your own prayers in the writing and publishing process of Life Unstuck?

My own reminders and recapture of the truths found in the 24 verses of Psalm 139.

8. How has Life Unstuck changed YOU?

The year of writing Life Unstuck was by far the toughest year of my journey as a Christian. I lost friends. I lost identity. I lost family physical closeness as each of my children and Grandchildren moved away from home. I even moved from my own home of over 20 years. My foundations were all rocked one by one, BUT GOD! As I dug into these verses every single day, by ORDER of a contracted deadline, God changed me. He unstuck me from many areas of bondage and burden that I never knew where keeping me away from my next adventure with Him. I re-learned that He sees me and has a plan for my life—a good plan. A God plan!

9. What is your prayer for anyone who reads Life Unstuck?

My hearts desire is that every woman who reads Life Unstuck will fold the last page of the book with a smile on her face and a feeling of peace, purpose and passion. I pray she is a different woman from the one who opened the first page. The foundational truths found in Psalm 139 are never “mastered” this side of heaven. We always need to be reminded of them and to re-embrace them, regardless of our level of spiritual maturity or experience. I pray that the Unstuck Manifesto becomes worn from wear and a part of her very core!

10. What are some practical ways your readers can implement the principles found in Life Unstuck

Life Unstuck provide the reader with personal hands on tools and exercises that will help them gain deeper insight into the one of a kind woman God created her to be; provide very specific steps for confronting the past in a healthy way; offer her steps to take for developing a more intimate relationship with Christ; help her intentionally discover her purpose in life TODAY just as she is living it and stir her heart and mind towards dreaming big God sized dreams for her future.

Thank, you, Pat for sharing your heart and passion with us today. I know your book will be a blessing!

“What If I didn’t hear God correctly?” I asked my husband a bazillions times—maybe more. It was the topic of discussion each night at dinner. One evening, just as I was about to sing the same song, he interrupted me in mid-chorus and insisted I talk it over with our pastor.

Anyone called of God has asked him/herself this question at one time or another. At least that’s what my pastor communicated when I finally dumped all my doubts and fears onto his lap one Tuesday afternoon. He was patient. Listened carefully, and then, shared his wisdom. His words were comforting to my anxious soul. I’d like to share with you what I learned.

First, Ministry is not something you and I choose. God does the choosing. Notice how Paul was called in 2 Timothy 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul became an apostle of Christ by the will of God. We can choose to do any other profession on earth, but ministry. To do ministry, you must be called and chosen by God. Once you’re certain of your call…doubt will turn to confidence.

You and I should be able to pinpoint a certain time when we heard/sensed the call of God. According to my pastor, we should write the experience down. There will be times when ministry gets hard. Doubts can settle in and you’ll need to go back to this moment for encouragement and confirmation to press on. I’m going on 15 years of ministry and I can tell you I followed this advice and very glad I did.

Secondly, God will work in unexplainable ways to confirm your call through circumstances and through others.

I’m married to an accountant with a personality. When I first began sharing with my husband, what I believed God was doing in my personal relationship with Him, he wasn’t completely on board. It was as new to him as it was to me. Looking back, I recognize that God had to speak to Pat in terms he could understand. As for me, I had to be patient.

Upon my pastor’s advice, I returned to our community college to enroll in classes. Since I had been a housewife for many years, it was a good idea. At the time, I didn’t even know how to use a computer!

My husband was sweet to go with me the day I registered. I filled out all the required papers with my birthday, name, both married and maiden, home address, you know, the usual. Then we sat in the office of administration for a long while before the young man, who took my papers, returned.

“Mrs. Campbell?” he inquired.

“Yes?” I answered.

“According to our records your first semester has already been paid.”

“What? How can that be?” I asked. My husband’s ears perked up too.

“When we put your information into the computer, it showed that in 1983 you had signed up for school, paid for a full semester, but never attended.” The boy explained.

He was right. After graduation, I had intended on going to school. Instead I met a really cute guy and ran off and got married. (That’s a story for another time.)

Now, many years later, the school was willing to honor my payment for the semester I never took.

My husband stood to his feet. “Son,” he started. “I’m an accountant and that doesn’t make sense. That payment would have been returned or written off the books years ago. There’s no way it should still be in your files.”

“We agree with you, sir.” Said the young man. “But it is there and my authority said to honor it.”

The car ride home was silent. Eventually, I asked, “Isn’t it nice to have my first semester paid for?”

“Uhhuh.” He mumbled. And that was that.

A few days later, Pat came around and said he was on board with whatever God was doing. When I asked what convinced him, he said it was what happened at the school that day.

Up until then, it hadn’t dawned me. God used that situation to speak to Pat in a language he could understand—mathematics. It was enough to convince him that God was up to something grand. We’ve enjoyed the ride ever since.

When God is calling you, He’ll confrim the call through your circumstances, His Word, sermons, and others. Often, other people can see your call before you can. Listen, walk through the open doors, and before you know it you’ll be right smack dab in the middle of God’s purpose for your life.

One last thought: God doesn’t call us to do great things, but He does great things in and through the servant fully yielded to Him and His will.

If you feel God is calling you into the ministry, you’ll want to check out She Speaks Conference 2015. You’ll walk away equipped and confident in your calling. I’ll be there. I hope to see you there too!