Gayla's Magazine

Welcome!

Thank you for stopping by.  This blog is sure to bring a smile along with discoveries and  encouragement for your daily life.  The significance of  a meaningful life comes with focus and developed personal skills for overcoming challenges.  I hope you explore these many pages and enjoy life from my view..... today is full of unexpected opportunities for growth!

He was just a boy....

My husband dreamed at 9 YEARS OLD that he was in Africa baptising African people in the ocean.  When he turned 17 years old he went on a trip to West Africa and FULFILLED HIS DREAM.  Amazing that he was in the same nation that I was a little girl in.  Although at that time my family was already back in the USA. Here he is at 17 with a Masai tribesmen.  (look at the little stool in his ear)

We connected a couple of years later.... and the instant electricity between us was and still is unforgettable.  Our paths were meant to be.  I believe in arranged marriages.... God arranged ours for sure!

I have never stopped to count the many nations we have worked in over 36 years.  The best thing about it?  We love what we do.... because as children He called both of us!!

My little native friend

This was a special day for two little african children... my mother was proud.  We were just hot.  We could not communicate as we spoke different languages... but we liked each other anyway. Mother made us dresses to match just for this special day.

She was fierce... I was shy.... and we looked just alike in our dresses.  We both had one thing in common we were both hungry. I wonder if she is still alive....

Us.... in the beginning.

Standing in the velds of southern Africa, I could have never imagined how God was going to direct our lives.  Having a baby in a war torn African nation was an experience I'll never forget.  Building churches in war was not easy... nor supporting fear stricken christian friends night and day.  Trying to feed hungry Africans while keeping our white skins alive was scary at times....  My husband was thrown in jail for smuggling food to hungry missionaries around this time in life.  War is hell...

You may just see an old fashioned looking picture of us here.  But when I look at this.... my mind is flooded with what we were doing, where we were and how we were quite alone and brave in those days.  And I see the directing Hand of God leading us through paths we could not know because He was training us to feed the nations back then.  We were left alone for a season.... no family, and no funds to support us.  Just us three and God.   

All of God's lessons imprint us deeply ....for a future destiny.

We were just two kids.... I was younger than the ageof my own daughter now. Life's perspectives do develop.... my baby girl in my arms - we determined if we died all three of us were going together!  But we didn't.... it was just part of our training in God's plan.

A white dress?  What was I thinking!

The Man of God...

The dry and deadly thoughts crept into the tired mind of the soul… yet he was still pressing…. Still yearning…. Still trying to go forward in the walk of faith.  Yet the passing hours grew late for deliverance, still the soul held on in spite of all outward circumstances of seemingly betrayed promises. 

That which warred against the mind continued to bring pressure and accusation day by day. Yet the man of the soul put his faith in God….

Long nights of tensed faith, and days of suspended progression both exercised the heart in different manners towards the expected release to come.

Becoming a man of tempered steel of character does not come because of light hearted activities and the shallow values of entertained physical momentum, But rather it comes in the deepened paths of the unknown gloom…...  having to trust in Almighty God and none else.

The forged man of God is not born from passive blessings passed down from father to son, But it comes from the fires of adversity, the depths of human suffering, and at the end of a shattered belief system that discovers the sovereignty of God when all else fails. 

Soul wrestles and mental workouts train the one who prepares for the battles by his intake in the Word of God.

And when the never ending warfare ends…. And when the “and it came to pass’ happens… The Man of faith is prepared, equipped and experienced to handle the unfolded Blessing.  For He understands the purpose of the Blessing, and in wisdom carries fresh faith to those still in the wallowing mud of  the onslaught of hell.   He overcomes…..by faith.

 

 

Happy Birthday Gayla

Today is my 54th birthday... and I' m having a wonderful time beginning the next season of life.  

I can think of 54 reasons to celebrate why I'm happy to be 54 today in the 'now' season...

Or 54 blessings that have been already given to me in my past...

54 people that mean the world to me....

54 pieces of my puzzle called life starting to make sense....

54 future  things on my bucket list still to do down the road...

54 things I'm happy are behind me and don't have to relive...

54 projects at home I still want to accomplish before I die....

54 little surprises for my family in my future....

But most of all.....

I'm 54 years closer to going home to  Heaven.... YES!! 

And amazingly I'm still here and healthy and going strong!

Thank you to my family for making my birthday special... and all my friends for thinking of me and sending me special calls, texts, cards, emails and facebook notes.  I love all of you!!  And to my beloved husband for a sweet and precious birthday!!

 

Why did I hit that button?!

I created a post this morning.... and hit the wrong button.... blip!  It's gone!!

Was going to show you the lampshade I made!!

It's gone and I'm out of time!

I'll try again tomorrow!!

 

Paul said, "I have kept the faith," but he lost his head! They cut that off, but it didn't touch his faith. He rejoiced in three things--this great Apostle to the Gentiles; he had "fought a good fight," he had "finished his course," he had "kept the faith." What did all the rest amount to? St. Paul won the race; he gained the prize, and he has not only the admiration of earth today, but the admiration of Heaven. Why do we not act as if it paid to lose all to win Christ? Why are we not loyal to truth as he was? Ah, we haven't his arithmetic. He counted differently from us; we count the things gain that he counted loss. We must have his faith, and keep it if we would wear the same crown.

I just have to tell all my duties sometimes to get in line and take a number! Too busy to post!

Forever

It seems like the sun shines forever.... when it's shining.

It seems like the night will be  forever.... when it's darkness.

It seems like life will go on forever.... when one is living.

It seems like death will go on forever.... when one is dying.

Yet all things come to an end... when we reach eternity.  For There is truly sunshine forever, no night, life eternal and no death.

To one eternity seems a scary place - to another it's the longed for Promise fulfilled.

Make your reservation sure.... because the turning of the page called 'life' happens to all. And where you spend eternity is totally up to you. It's completely your choice.

Ask Jesus to come into your heart today. Learn to walk with Him daily... progress in your spiritual life actively... and one day when this life is over.... you will fly away to Him.... Forever.

 

 

Think about it...

It's been a very intense week working in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky with the tornado victims.  It has made me rethink having an emergency plan in place at all times.  Seeing what happens to families that have made no arrangements for dangerous events in life has impressed me to say something on my blog about it. 

If a tornado heads your way.... don't say..."well it will never hit here."

Instead- what's your plan?  Where would you go quickly?  Have emergency funds?  Emergency food sources? Important papers kept safely? 

While one can't completely control what happens in life,  making a plan  for those 'just in case' times is wise.

Be nice to your relatives... you never know if you might need to live with them for  while :)

Be nice to your neighbors.... you might need to run to their house if something is wrong :)

And MOST OF ALL  get saved. One never knows when their hourglass is up and time is over for good. This is your wisest preparation of all.

Think about it... it's a reality check of another kind.