Gayla's Magazine

A Cool Drink of Water on a Hot Day

Why don't you set down a moment and drink a cold glass of water with me and rest a moment.  Let me share something special that happened at the RMA store.  It's about 100 degrees here and even when the hot wind blows it's muggy and sticky and very humid.  Good old Texas heat!  This is when we all wonder how did people ever live down here before air conditioning!

While walking through the Role Models of America store checking on the staff and greeting our shoppers, I hear a man talking to our cashier and his voice carries across the store.

"Every since I moved here nothing in my life has worked right.  I left California to see if life in Texas would be better and it's not!  I have went from bad to worse!  It seems like everything I touch either breaks or falls apart or I lose it somehow.  Things cannot get any worse for me! I just thought my life was bad there - it's doubly hard here".  On and on he goes, telling his sad story to the cashier. 

Now this conversation would catch the ear of any pastor's wife, so I go to see what this is all about.  I find a older gentlemen, he looks like he is in his late 60's with a full head of white hair.  And he is unhappy.  He does not even look up when I stand next to him, his complaints about life and his job and his health and his wife and his house went on and on.  Finally having heard enough, I reached out my hand and gently touched the back of his hand and said to him with a smile,  "give me your hand I am going to pray for you".  He looked at me...... to see if I was serious.  I never took my eyes off of him and I said quietly to him, "God can change your life this moment, you don't have to live anymore in misery".

He took my hand and for the first time, went silent. I grasped his hand firmly and  I prayed quietly but clearly enough for him to hear my voice.  "Lord Jesus I break the curse off of this man's life.  Let him go free and I command life to change for him this moment.  No more negative happenings in Jesus Name.  I rebuke the devourer off of his life.  Let salvation come into his life now".

He looked straight at me, took a deep breath stood still for a moment and said quietly "thank you Ma'am".  And that was that.  No more complaining out of him.  Something happened that very instant. (not something happened - Jesus touched him I know)  And he was calm, peaceful, made his purchase and slowly walked out, still speechless. He received more than a good bargain sale, he received a cool drink of refreshing Water.    

He came into a thrift store a hurting person, but left with a promise, peace and a clear horizon.  His life reminds me of some of the items in this  store.  Someone donates their goods away because they no longer want them, but someone else sees value in them and cleans it up and made it presentable and desirable again.  Thats what Jesus does for each of us.  Someone threw us away, but He took us in, cleaned us up made us presentable and desirable again before God. 

This store sees so many lives on a daily basis - what a fun place to hang out for a pastor's wife!  My own mission field every day! Now doesn't that make you feel like you have just enjoyed a cool refreshing drink of water to quench your thirst?   

The Coffee Cafe

As a Pastor's wife, I thought you might like to see some of our ministry locations. So as time and my schedule permits, I will show each of them to you.   This is the Coffee Cafe located in our Community Center.  It is one of the business ventures we have going.  We proudly brew Starbucks coffee - the best coffee in the world!  Serving hot coffee and wonderful specialty drinks 7 days a week! In the winter - the hot rich carmel and chocolates, or hazelnut plus a variety of other tasty flavors waft through the air here. 

In the summertime frosty cold coffee drinks as well as fruit smoothies and creamices taste soooo good coming in from the hot outdoors.  Our customers always enjoy watching the barrista mix up their personal drink while standing at this beautiful bar. Many of our daily customers receive their drink without ever ordering it - as the barristas know what they like - talk about personal service with a smile!  They drive up in the parking lot - and immediately the employee gets started making their favorite coffee. 

The antique bar was located by my husband who is a great detective that can find the most amazing hidden treasures. He found this bar in the back of a basement in a warehouse building in Idaho.  It was a real find!  The history of it is that it had been used in John Wayne movies at one time! It's carvings and fine details are still perfect, after being in storage for many years.

The fragrance of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or white chocolate macadamia nut ones smells so good here. Or the smell of still warm cranberry scones with melted icing  floats across the whole downstairs of the Community Center into the offices!  MMMMM so hard to resist.  Of course we have different kinds of fruits to offer those of us who are being health conscious a good alternative. And then we have all the cold sodas and fruit juices as well. There is an old marble ice cream bar here as well from the 1940's!   

It's a favorite hang out for our teens as well as our church family before and after services.  Not to mention that it provides a good place for business people to meet up during the day.  I have seen many business presentations happening here at one of the booths.

With upbeat jazz music at times, and occasionally laughter being heard, the Coffee Cafe is a grand place to be! It's the best place of fellowship and business for New Life.  It's decorated in rich shades of antique and eclectic conversation pieces.  Just enlarge the pictures and you will see all kinds of special details.   

Sometimes someone is honored with a Birthday celebration here.  I have seen customers enjoying their coffee with their laptop surfing the web in our WiFi building.  And sometimes even our staff will take a break here and enjoy their lunch together. The Coffee Cafe is a great place and a important part of New Life.   

I was honored to be the designer and creator of the huge curtains that are here.  They are 3 layers thick, made with a silky fabric that hangs wonderfully and provides a great backdrop for these large windows.  Each of them were designed with different tassels for interest.  It took us 3 weeks to make them, but I love how they look and it was worth all the work. 

You may not can tell by this picture how many drinks we do offer, but the one that I love the most is a vanilla creme made with soy milk.  It is delicious and I recommend it highly.  (Secret ..... shhhh.....  it's only 140 calories!)

You know my husband the Bishop is a innovative Pastor with a sharp business mind - this was his creation and has proved to be a special addition to our church.  He always has some creative thoughts going! If you have not read his business blog - go check him out!  It's www.marketplacefaith.biz  Every church could use a Coffee Shop - it's a perfect fit for fellowship and business.  And every committee meeting and church function has it's refreshment needs taken care of.  But it takes a business mind to make it all work - thanks to the Bishop for his foresight and eagle-eyed management skills in the creation of 'The Coffee Cafe'.   

India Missionaries

It truly was an honor to have this Missionary couple visit with us this Sunday.  From time to time we have missionaries in services with us - some come for support, some come for refueling, and some come because someone told them about us and they want to meet us.  This couple was introduced to us through some fellow ministers who know our heart for missions.  Meet some of God's elect on the earth.  These are Missionaries Alexander and Rita Daniel.  

I wish you could have set in to hear all of the experiences they have had while traveling for the Gospel.  From all over India, to Thailand, Laos, Burma and even Norway - this man has preached Jesus to the corners of the world.  He goes to places that many times he is told, he is the first foreigner the villagers have ever met.  The majority of people in these places worship demons.  There are no electricity, water, no radios, certainly no TV's so his voice preaching to them is a first they have ever heard!!!

You have got to go read some about their mission works.  Here is his address.

www.teaminternational.cc 

Hearing about dangerous trips inland amongst the Hindu idol worshipers, he tells us of his recent experiences in India.  Perscution is happening right now in India to believers.

His grandfather Rev John Ayyapilla was one of the eight tribal Princes who ruled in a province in India.  Through a missionary his grandfather accepted the Lord, but suffered  many persecutions as a result.  Yet he persevered and his son became a minister pioneering churches for 57 years! And today his grandson preaches to thousands - setting them free from demonic deception.  The power of a single missionaries voice is amplified to an untold number of souls that only eternity will reveal. 

They have been involved in planting churches and establishing Bible Schools through out India.  May God bless them for their years of labor.  Please pray for them and visit their site.

 

The Ladies Service

One last post about the 8th annual Role Models of America Women's Tea. Our attendance was overflowing and we have outgrown the Palace Theater.  We will have to move to the big gym next year.  Our Team leaders did outstanding in their presentations and the whole service was great!

There were special songs and interpretive dances all designed to minister to the specific needs of women.  From her heart to her attitudes to the service she provides in the lives of those around her.  Each song and dance was a tremendous encouragement and inspirational to every one there.

We used some of our elder ladies and some of the younger ones.  Every woman has a special gift to share with the world.  I encourage each of my leaders to develop fully her talents before the Lord. It was a afternoon never to be forgotten.  It took 3 months to plan this properly - but oh what a powerful time we had!  And at the end I spoke a word and we ended the afternoon.  It went so fast!  I wanted to share some of the photos with you.  It's hard for you to  experience it - and the pictures really can't show you how good it was - but it's a little taste of it for sure.

 

Everyday Blessings

Along life's pathway as we are all walking, working, sweating, doing, straining at times, seeing, going ... coming across the 'flower' of the day makes it all worth while for this pastor's wife.

As is my custom to oversee different functions at our Role Models of America store, which serves the public with quality clothing, furniture, books and household goods, something special happened.  I had one of our staff members assigned to a labor intensive job of clearing out a room upstairs to make it useful for store supplies, extra male and female mannequins and 'stuff' to manage a store properly with.  She gave the job (which was not air conditioned I might add) to one of our faithful Community Service workers. 

This guy worked on this big project for three days in the heat.  And when I came back to inspect the work I was amazed at the total transformation.  It looked just like I had imagined it could.  White shelving around the room complete with drawers filled with sacks, size rings, sale posters, pricing gun supplies, colored papers for the different months and special sales, and all kinds of well organized details that make a store run well.   This guy did a great job and I was so pleased. 

It was later in the week before I saw the worker responsible for this transformation.  And when I saw him and began to thank him for his hours and hours of labor, he didn't say much but he could tell how thrilled I was with his results.  I recognize and appreciate someone who puts their whole heart into their project - I guess because personally I don't know any other way to work myself. And I knew how much this room would be a help to our staff in their daily work. 

After a little while this man came back to me, and began to thank me for noticing his work.  That it meant alot to him for me to notice what he had done.  That he was really trying to walk right and be straight and how much it helped to encourage him to keep trying to do the right things in life. And for the first time I saw a smile cross his face in all the time he had served alongside us. 

I walked away from that conversation with tears in my eyes.  How a simple heartfelt thank you, made a difference in his life.  He told me that my words helped him to keep going right.  I didn't know his personal life story, but along the road of life, I was able to hand him some flowers that helped his personal story to continue doing right.  That he IS important and his time with us has been worthwhile and meaningful. 

This week he completes his hours and will be able to put some troubled times behind him, but we won't forget him - and neither he us.  For the brightness that came into his life - will soon change it for the good.  Welcome home new brother!  Welcome home.      

Why?

Today has been such a busy day running from place to place.  In the course of the day several different things took place.  Some I wish I had had my camera with me to take a picture to show you.  Such as the precious newborn baby born to a family in our church.  One of my travels today as a pastor's wife, was to a area hospital to welcome this baby son and congratulate the parents.  We wish you both all the best as parents Tina and Chris! Now why did I not have my trusty camera with me? I always have it, why not now?

Something else of interest happened when a large container filled with glass items suddenly fell right next to me covering my legs and feet with shards of broken glass.  It would have made a nice picture - all the sparkling shining glittering tiny glass splinters all over me!  I didn't get cut, standing right next to the accident, but the staff member who dropped it did. (A cut on his finger) Now how did that happen?

Listening to the radio while I travel, telling me that it's 101 degrees outside. When I see this character go past me. Now why would he choose to be dressed in black leathers, gloves, long boots, and a full face helmet? In this heat ..... why? 

It's curious to me why we have a stoplight that causes cars to stop on the railroad tracks?  How did the engineers let this happen? On what design boardroom meeting did this mistake happen - all of the traffic lines up dutifully across the tracks 3 cars deep.  I am sure every driver setting here, hopes no train is coming while they wait for the red lights to change.  ????

A moving van driving in front of me, has a little birds nest sticking out of the bumper.  Now how does this happen?  It can't been a restful home place for the little birdies. And how did the momma bird hope to handle the rocking eggs going from place to place?

  And look at this!  Someone has cut the grass along the roadside, and for the most part it looks good.  But what happened to cause them to quit before the job was done.  And a long swathe of weeds is left to grow taller.  Would you like to ask the question for me?   WHY?

Passing a chemical plant I wonder, if safety is followed strictly and all standards are kosher so to speak.  Why does it smell so bad most of the time in this area?  And what IS that awful smell.  And should I be holding my breath as I pass each time? 

These are questions I don't have any answers for just in todays travels.  Anyone else know the answers here? 

   

Dr Scholl's Sandals

I suddenly was flooded with a memory today while helping in our RMA store.  I came across a pair of shoes that brought back something that happened to me in childhood, in Fassama Liberia. Funny how just seeing something can take one back many years, to relive an experience.  This particular memory brought a smile.

Remember Dr Scholl's wooden sandals?  I just had to try them on!  Here is the memory recalled.  I was 7 years old in the middle of the African jungle 65 miles from the nearest road in a little humble mission called Fassama with my missionary family.  And an overlooked fact became apparent to all of us.  I outgrew my shoes.  Now two of my brothers had no trouble with this issue, because they could simply grow into their older brother Alan's shoes.  But there was no one to share shoes with me.  And before long I was out of shoes.  My Dad on his busy trips to other missions, villages and towns would hunt for me a pair to wear. And upon his return trips, Mother always ask, 'did you find any shoes for Gayla'? None could be found.   

Now in Fassama, Liberia it was very important for us to have shoes because of the constant threat of snakes, bugs and bacteria, in and on the ground.  So it became a concern to my parents for me to have protection on my feet!  My parents wrote back to the States to their family and friends asking for shoes for me.  I remember Mother outlining my feet on paper to send in with her request.  Please send Gayla a pair of shoes.  We cannot find anything here to fit her.

Finally my Dad managed to find a pair of shoes for me.  They were second hand from a kind person in an Embassy in the capital city of Monrovia.  But I didn't care.  Finally.... Shoes!  And when he was able to go and get them..... they turned out to be Dr Scholl's.  And they looked very much like this pair in this picture.  I was happy, they felt good! The cool curved wood under my bare feet felt relaxing yet firm.    Mother was not quite so happy as my feet would be exposed - but what else could we do?  I ended up wearing those shoes for almost 2 years!  They were my only pair. I wore them to church, to school, out to play, to bathe, literally everywhere! I loved clomping them.  The wooden bases never wore out.  And somehow they fit my feet all this time. 

Finally we get a eagerly awaited package from America!  It was always like Christmas when we would receive something from the good old USA.  Everyone gathered around, and the package is opened carefully, hoping that whatever is inside is not damaged, and is something we really can use. 

It was a pair of shoes for Gayla Joyce!  A little pair of black and white oxfords.  I was thrilled!  And promptly sat down to try them on.  Only to be so very disappointed.  They were too small.  How could this be?  Finally I got real shoes - it seemed a cruel joke to me. What could my parents say..... they too were unhappy about it.  But shoes were a premium and we could not afford to ignore this gift. 

So my parents decide 'hey shoes are shoes and we have other children'.  And so it was decided that my youngest brother Regan would try them on.  And to his chagrin I am sure..... they fit. The other 2 brothers are ordered in no uncertain terms that we will not be making remarks of ANY KIND about Regan's new shoes.

So he got a new pair of 'girl' shoes and I continued wearing my old wooden shoes.  Somehow we all outgrew these days of childhood I eventually got a pair of clear plastic ones from an African store in a town. 

Now how would you resist trying them on again, just to see if they still have that smooth curved supportive feeling on the bottom of  ones feet.  Guess what...they do!    

The Dream

I dreamed a dream of three parts 2 weeks ago and can’t get away from it – so I will share it with you. May the spiritual insight help you too.

We were somewhere waiting to see a certain person that we knew. He had ask to see us, and so we waited. Then we were walking down a boulevard and it was night he still had not come. Then we see a man with some children and he is playing with them with some sort of a toy train that he is driving and the kids are riding in behind him, The closer we got, we could see it was the person we knew. We started talking about it – ‘look we have been waiting on this guy and he’s been playing all this time’. Then when we got close to him and he saw us he knew we had seen him and what he was doing. He came over and tried to make excuses we were kind to him but did not stop and kept on walking straight ahead.

#1 Spiritual Principal These are the many distractions and hindrances from others along the journey of life to keep us from making progress and moving ahead spiritually.

Then I was in a country in the Middle East and it was nighttime. I needed to buy some salt. So I left the place I was at and walked out into the night and there were a group of dangerous men standing outside and I ask one where a store was. He pointed straight ahead so I walked to it. I knew it was very dangerous and suddenly prayed they would not stop me and start searching. I had crosses hidden in my stuff. I went up to the building and knocked. Went inside and there was a old woman in a bed. I ask her for some salt – she spoke English to me which I thought was unusual. Her house was very small and looked like an old poor persons house with rough wooden slats for walls. She took me into her store which was another part of her house. There she had foodstuffs for sale. I got the salt. Then she showed me her pet cat. But when the cat came into the room, it was not a regular cat – it was a cougar, this big cougar started playing around and rubbing up against her and trying to play with me, but I knew this was no cat so I was staying far away from it. She did not seem to notice that it was a dangerous animal she was keeping inside with her.

#2 Spiritual Principal The dangerous position believers put themselves in by not using wisdom, or trying the spirits to see if it is of God, and getting so used to spiritual wickedness that they don’t discern the deadly repercussions that can take place as a result. Their spiritual houses are worn out and not taken care of. And the spirits which stand outside the doors of our hearts are waiting to take action against us.

Then I was in a van with other people and we were traveling somewhere. And the semi truck in front of us was carrying 2 different types of big things. The traffic was moving fast and his load started to shift. One of the items looked like a heavy steel pear shaped sphere of some sort. It’s straps started straining and this thing started wobbling and worked it’s way loose. It fell off of the moving vehicle and became a dangerous weapon. There was nothing we could do but pray and try to avoid it hitting us. It bounced ahead of us and squeezed past the semi in the left side of it, and against the concrete barrier getting a long gash in the side of it, but did not lose momentum. It headed for a white van parked on the side of the road that had 5 men inside. I prayed Lord protect human life! This thing hit the van full force, and instantly killed all 5 men. And it somehow imploded not creating a outward gas explosion but a inward one inside the van, like it was contained. We all cried out when it hit, we saw it happen. I was crying in the dream. The man that I was looking at never knew what was coming. He was a middle aged dark haired man with a mustache.

#3 Spiritual Principal Along the journey of life, unexpected events can take place – because of being at the wrong time at the wrong place – and one can get caught in the planned actions of spiritual warfare in other peoples lives. All this may be in full action and we cannot stop what may happen. Yet God can contain that missile of wrong action and cause it to go astray and miss your life, ‘you will see it but it will not come nigh thee’.

The Igloo Ice Chest

"Help..... we need this Igloo ice chest to look better for our buffet lines.  This red plastic square bucket just does not add anything to the beauty of our tables". A staff member comes to me with a problem to be solved.   Hmmmm .....this requires some thought.  Unlike the other ice chest that I decorated for the upstairs Palace Theater, this one sits ON the table and not IN the table.  So when life calms down somewhat for this pastor's wife, I take the ice chest to my sewing area and sit for a moment to see what to do.  As I am sitting quietly, I suddenly can 'see' how it could be down quickly and simply. Thank you God for the idea!

Looking through my many fabric swatches that I keep for such projects I find just the right piece.  It's the right color and it's got some elastic to it, and it's discreet to blend in just right. And how did it so happen that I have just the right amount of fabric too?  Ah God you are too good!!! And He and I share a secret smile. 

This is an easy project,  just sew a big square that it will fit inside. Sort of like a large pillow case.  Make it a little smaller than the ice bucket so the elastic fabric will be stretched over it tightly.

The handle can be pushed down and the fabric stretched over it to hide it, once it's on the table filled with ice. 

And this is the finished project!  It's smooth and will work perfectly for our staff in their rentals. 

And by the time the staff needs it on the table ready to go the next day, voila....here it is ready to go. The staff is happy with it, and this job is complete.  No one can see the ugly ice chest setting on the elegant buffet table.  I know my job is well done when it's not noticed, and people just begin to use it.  Nice! 

Picture Perfect Pillars

The Community Center is in need of some matching pillars for height and decoration for buffets.  When a large group is being served a breakfast or a snack buffet - it's a beautiful presentation to have different levels of foods.  Why not just set the food on the table? Besides using proper professional food presentations which are eye pleasing, using levels helps with space issues as different angles of highs and lows can accommodate same size trays in the same small space.

Creating the buffet tablescape's is my job - which is pure fun! Sometimes building them is based on a seasonal idea.  Or a theme around the function.  For example, a baby shower would be done differently than a wedding shower buffet.  And in this case - it's for a business function so these decorations need to fit the function. So my theme is business. So we need some pillars to make this work. The idea is to find pillars that can be interchanged for different looks.    

If I can find some pillars that are different heights - they can all be made to look alike by painting them.  So it's a trip to RMA looking for any kind of pillars to dig up for transformation. But really many different things can be used for creating height.  Things like upside down baskets, or wooden boxes, or metal cannisters (or large cans if need be).  In times past shoe boxes have been used and hidden under table cloths for special effects.   

Over the years I have quite a collection of paints from different projects.  This plastic tote has transformed many an old junky thing into something of beauty.  While at the store I found six differing kinds of pillars perfect for this project. With a little paint, and time, when they are done they will all look alike!            

This tote can go from one location to another - it's like a mechanics tool box - necessary to complete a job.

First thing is to paint all of these silver - yes plain old shiny silver - any kind of silver spray from my collection of paints will do here. It is fine if they are chipped and scratched up. Just spray them completely in a open air area. It's 103 degrees outside today, so I am sure these will dry in no time at all!

Once everything is dry - it's time for the details to be done.  Taking black acrylic paint - paint part of the pillar that is now silver, completely black now. But be careful to work quickly as this paint will dry fast!

Taking a paper towel, start wiping off the black paint with gentle swipes.  Dabbing it will produce a marbling effect, sweeping motions will produce a streaking look.   I dabbed the angels and 'swept' the long pillar part on this one.     

The finished look is perfect!  It's very polished looking.  Now on to the other 5 pillars. 

This takes time but it is well worth the effort as we can now create quite a impressive display for business buffets. 

These are all a gun metal black color with a silver touch.  Beautiful!  Let them dry overnight now.

And here they are in use. This particular buffet is done back to back as there are two sets of doors for people to enter the gym.  So our client wanted two buffets set up.  Now these two buffets mirror each other nicely. They look just alike, the spread of food is gorgeous and ready to eat!

No creation is complete until everything is cleaned up and put away properly for the next project. Brushes are cleaned with soapy cool water and carefully dried.  I have had these brushes for many years and have used them hundreds of times.  Good brushes are well worth their expense. 

Now what can I paint ............. hmmmmm.