Sandi Patty - Layers: Uncovering and Celebrating Gods Original Idea of Me

Praise for Layers

As if it werent enough to be one of the greatest voices on the planet, Sandi is also a great writer who draws you into her struggles and leaves you with Gods hope and grace and healing.

Stephen Arterburn

Sandi is one of my dearest friends for many reasons. I love her heart, which is rich and full and always thinking of what she could do to bless and encourage someone else. I love her voice, which is like no other. I love her sense of humor, which has rescued me from many a bleak moment. Perhaps more than anything else, I love her vulnerability. Sandi is willing to offer the loaves and fishes of her life and allow Christ to bless them, break them, and feed so many people.

Sheila Walsh
Author, Get Off Your Knees and Pray

Sandi peels back the layers of her own pain and emotional process to help each of us on our own journey toward health and wholeness. Shes real so we can be.

Mary Graham
President, Women of Faith

It blesses me beyond words to see someone who truly is the real deal. Someone who admits that she made poor choices, that she has failed at times, and that loving Jesus does not make you perfect! I know that being transparent may be difficult at first (after all, we have layers placed so perfectly), but the freedom and empowerment that come from being who you truly aremistakes and allmake the difficult seem easier. Our layers, whether brought on by us or given to us, dont have to be more than they are. I always say that my poor choices are neither to be worn like a scarlet letter nor to be held high like a medal of honor. They are just choices, given to the Lord for Him to use for His glory! Thank you, Sandi, for giving Him all the glory and for allowing the world to see how beautiful a woman can be without all the layers of life holding her down!

Tracy Elliott
Mrs. Texas 2006 and Author, Unbroken

Sandis book is a brilliant as well as tender account of the layers of protection shes used for years to keep her core pain from being seen by anyone, including herself. I so respect her determination to peel back those layers and get acquainted with the beautiful little blonde Sandi just waiting to be discovered. You will love this highly personal journey Sandi invites us to take with her. You will also love knowing theres hope for all of us multilayered persons.

Marilyn Meberg
Women of Faith Speaker and
Author, Love Me, Never Leave Me

Sandi Pattys meteoric rise as a popular vocalist was fueled by soaring tunes declaring the glory of God. The astonishing range and sheer power of her voice took our breath away. But as the circumstances of her personal life began to change, her musical signature did as well. Her repertoire deepened with a catalog of thoughtful lyrics that speak of Gods gracea grace made all the more extraordinary by the realization that He knows everything about us. In Layers, Sandi tells the story of peeling back the layers of her own heart and soul, a painful peeling at times, but a peeling without which grace cannot be fully understood or received. Layers challenges all of us to be honest, knowing that the truth always heals... even when its hard to bear.

Jim Lyon
Pastor, Madison Park Church of God

Layers

ALSO BY SANDI PATTY:

Le Voyage
Merry Christmas, with Love
Sams Rainbow
Broken on the Back Row
Life in the Blender
Falling Forward

Layers

Uncovering and Celebrating
Gods Original Idea of You

Sandi Patty

2008 Sandi Patty

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Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Patty, Sandi, 1956
Layers : uncovering and celebrating Gods original idea of you / Sandi Patty.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7852-2829-5 (hardcover)
1. Christian womenReligious life. 2. Self-actualization (Psychology)Religious aspectsChristianity. 3. Patty, Sandi, 1956 I. Title.
BV4527.P3865 2008
248.843dc22

2008005159

Printed in the United States of America
08 09 10 11 12 QW 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my husband and best friend,
Don,
who has layered me
with the love of Christ.

LAYERS

Buried deep beneath this skin lies a child full of hope.

Let her out, let her soar.

Why do you cover her with your shame, why do you layer her with your guilt?

Tell her shes been set free, tell her shes okay, Tell her she doesnt have to be ashamed and hide behind the armor of false protection and guilt.

She trusts in the lie that says she will never be safe And that she will never know freedom and love and peace, But you can tell her, you can give her wings, You can help her speak.

She shies as she listensshe cant believe its true No more hiding, no more layers of the lies that cage her in Shes a beauty, shes a princess, Shes a woman-child with much to say.

Just knowing, she stands taller, she stands prouder, She stands sure.

All she needed was permission to lose the cravings of her shame. It was she who held on tight and not the chains that bound.

I can see her in the distance, running, arms open wide, Longing to be known, longing to be loved, longing to belong, Craving union with her soul, craving fullness of contentment, And I hold her in my heart, and I welcome my old friend.

It is this that leaves her full Coming home to all of me, more of me, less of me, And the layers of protection begin to melt away on sight, No longer needed as a buffer, She walks naked into the light, exposing all of her to His mercy and His love Not holding back, she dances into my arms of love.

SANDI PATTY, 2006

CONTENTS

3. Replacing Guilt with Grace and
Coming to Peace with Yourself

4. Reclaiming Gods Perfectly
Imperfect Creation: Me!

7. One Choice Away from
Heading in the Right Direction

Not the End: Every Day
Is My Birthday

I must first and foremost thank my heavenly Father for patiently peeling and healing the layers of my life.

I am so very grateful to my family for practicing grace with me every day.

I love my Women of Faith family, and I thank you from the bottom of my soul for giving my heartscars and all a home.

Thank you, Sue Ann Jones, for listening, hearing, and helping me tell my story.

And thank you to Thomas Nelson, especially to Debbie Wickwire, for literally crossing every T and dotting every I.