Gayla's Magazine

The Power of Pain

Do you know what one of the greatest blessings in all the world is?  It's not money, or provision, family or fame, power or influence.  Don't get me wrong all of these are tremendous blessings and the intentions of each in ones life is for a purpose for sure. But no the single most greatest blessing is to be pain free - naturally.  Pain has the power to stop a person in their tracks, turn their life inside out and upside down completely.

Just think if you are reading this right now and you have no pain, you are so blessed.  Pain totally takes ones focus from every part of life and drains energy, thought and routines. 

Today I was able to be in services and take part and I was pain free.  What a blessed relief! Just to set still and be at peace and comfortable while listening to the Word being preached.  So good. The simple feeling of no pain is incredible blessing.

What a wonderful gift in itself is good health.

Have you stopped to thank God for being pain free this moment? It's so simple to be grateful.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

Marcus T. Cicero
c. 106-43 BC, Great Roman Orator, Politician

A Twisted Pelvis - Ouch!

Twisted Pelvis Check - an extract from 'A Bowen Therapists Notebook'

Special thanks to my friends who send me all sorts of information and helps!  I love all of you!!! One friend sent me this link about a twisted pelvis and what it really is. 

I have inclluded the link here so if you too are recovering from such an injury - check this out. 

The following procedures are not intended to replace medical advice, which, due to possible injury to the skeletal system, should be sought in the first instance. (Check that the person has not had a hip replacement operation.)

An unbalanced pelvis is a fairly common. The causes are many and varied, muscles in spasm, injury within muscles and the skeletal structure of the pelvic system. Correction of a pelvis is relatively easy and should be achieved without inducing pain or stress on the system; otherwise other problems can be created.

The pelvis is a cats’ cradle held in place by muscles, associated skeletal system, and ligaments. It forms a major part of the body and contains within it the reproductive system and parts of the digestive system and is the conduit through which passes the nerves and blood supplies to the lower limbs. It is the pivot upon which the rest of the body sits. Any unbalance of it and its parts have far reaching effects upon the person.

The pelvis can be skewed in either the up position, (tilted), or front to back, (twisted).

http://www.timetotreat.co.uk/remedies/pelvischeck.shtml

A Gift for Writing?

Laying down trying to let my back heal, I am thinking about a long time dream I have ...... writing a book.  Hmmmm maybe I'll just write something and see what happens.

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Suddenly the weather worn door was flung open and with a screech the large bird flapping blackened feathered wings of fear wrestled with the dampened airwaves and flew out to freedom.  The sounds of his calling voice reached out into the gathering darkness of evening.  And the disturbance raised the heads of feeding deer and small wild animals through the fading sunlit trees.  In the background of softening sounds and sights of evening, the focus of a woman watching from within the smudged window panes, tried to settle on one thought among many. 

'What?? How did that bird get into the rickety shell of the former house?  And what scared the bird to heavy flight?  And how did he get that crooked slice of a door open. And was that a buzzard!?!? And just as each thought skittered through her mind, a chill whisked down her spine with the awakened thought, 'I am alone here'...................

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What do you think?  Is writing in my future, or should I give it up? 

Some up time .....some down time

I am doing some better, today has been a up and down day.  Get up, move around, get tired and start hurting, set back down.  Rest a little while and try again.  The Dr wants me to start moving to limber up my frozen muscles. Ha!  Sounds easy but not so when the invisible knife of pain thrusts deeply again. 

Do some exercises, use the ice packs, take some more Bayer aspirin .....

Oh well....... I shall survive this too. So I spend my time praying over this storm brewing in the gulf again.  Hmmmmm at least this is a useful use of my life today. 

I promise to NOT lift anything very heavy ever again!!!

The Types of Ministry - Where Do I Fit??

While resting the hours pass slowly and I wonder what all is happening around in my life.  The back is not like a leg that can be wrapped up and life can keep moving.  No.... the back controls the whole movement of the body for sure! So I am stuck flat on my back waiting the the muscles to heal. This Pastor's wife doesn't like just setting around watching the hands of the clock drag by. 

So I have been contemplating function, focus and the forms of ministry.  So this post is a peek at my thoughts......

When one is called into the ministry of reaching souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of salvation, at first it feels like a general calling.   Just whenever, however and whoever.  Then as development begins to occur and training starts taking root deeply - discovery comes and the called one finds talents in some areas of ministry and a complete lack in other areas.  Hmmmmmm...... 

Learning one's self is the achievement that leads to success.

So what are the areas of ministry? In my surmising I have discovered two types.

Spoken or Silent. (two completely separate ways of fulfilling ministry)

Spoken can be related to external or outwardly expressed in front of people.

Silent can be related to behind the scenes, internal, written, ministry done while no one is looking at one.   

After one accepts their calling from the Lord, then a time of provision comes when giftings and talents begin to show up exposing the calling to the pathway intended for it's best expression through the person's life.

Preaching the Gospel through these ways and means:

• Spoken Word  - preaching and teaching out loud in front of different people groups

                Seniors

                Adults

                Teens (a whole world within this group- interests, types)

                Children (different ages, boys/girls, interests)

• Musical Expressions

                Singing

                Playing an instrument

                Songwriting and composing music

                Producing music that others had created

• The Arts

                Acting

                Dance

                Drawing

                Creating Props and Backgrounds and Costumes

• Technical

                 Sound

                 Cameras

                 Television

                 Radio

                 Internet

                 Video

                 Teleprompter systems

• Administrative

                Organizational functions

                Records made and kept

                Collective ministry behaviors and structures

• The Written Ministry

                 Writing books

                              Textbooks       

                              Sermons

                              Novels

                              Children and Teen books

                   Creating magazines

                   Writing Sunday School Curriculum (different ages)

                   Printing and Producing

I am sure there are many more I can add to this list, and if you are a called person can you see where God is wanting to use you in ministry?

 

               

               

Ohhhh my back!!!!

Mysteries happen all the time, and while sometimes subtle hints come around of what is going to happen, sometimes life catches us by surprise.  My back did such a thing to me last week. it was sending out little signals .... ahhhhh you need to slow down a little ....ohhhh things are getting a little cramped around in here...... uhhhh ....  can you hear us back here????  And of course I ignored the little voices all the while running to and fro taking care of life and acting as if oh well it's just my back... get over it!

(I admit I did forget I am no longer in my 20's)

This went on until Sunday morning and my back promptly 'backslid' and no more was I feeling qualms and tiny flashes of pain.  It was an all out onslaught of pain OUCH!!!!! I COULD BARELY WALK.

And of course this Sunday happens to be a completely full day with 2 services and 3 long meetings.  So I was up and out from 7:45am till after 6 pm. 

I ended up not able to lead worship, thank God for a great team to step in and handle things I just could not bear the pain.

I sat thru all the meetings thanks to some pain meds, juice and tlc- and have ended up in bed for 2 days flat on my back.

Thankfully my husband and my daughter can handle most things around here while I recover.

Tomorrow shall be better!!!  

 

Rejection

Yesterdays services were good at church.  Growing into maturity requires really listening to the Word that is being preached.  And not forgetting it when returning home.  And then mulling it over and over till it becomes part of ones life in obedience. 

The message my husband preached  was all about rejection. Who has not dealt with that subject?  It's painful to be rejected, it undermines ones confidence and if a person is already insecure, rejection will disrupt their relationships, and..... let's face it, rejection causes all sorts of repercussions.   It was a lot to think about and hold onto when faced with rejection.

I know age doesn't help one learn to deal with rejection.  Many elderly people also suffer from rejection issues even in their old age.

Neither does money- rejection hurts everyone from the richest to the poorest.  Nor does addictive behavior or drugs these only numb the pain for a little while then the pain of it returns with a vengeance. 

Only the presence of God can heal the deep wounds of rejection in one's heart. Learning to practice the Presence of God in one's daily life is essential to handling the rejections of people, life and circumstances. In His Arms is found acceptance, healing and wholeness.

Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless. II Peter 3:14

 

A smile for the day!

Today is a juggling day keeping several balls in the air. So I will start your day with just a smile or two.  Ask your friends these questions and see if they know the answers....

What creature was born without a soul, later possessed a soul, then died without a soul?

(the whale that swallowed Jonah)

And one for your kids....

What animals carried the most baggage into the Ark?

(the elephants carried their trunks)

I am thinking about my brother today

One of my favorite people in all the world is my oldest brother Alan.  I have 3 brothers who are all dear to me- but Alan and I talk on the phone sometimes several times a week. 

Like my husband and I, he is the Senior Pastor of a church called Generations Church that he and his beautiful wife Yvette pastor. Today he is on my mind, so I pray blessing on him and his family and their church family. 

As you can understand - we have many things in common in the daily work of pastoring a congregation, and being the older siblings in our family, and our own personal family units as well. They have 2 adult children Zane (who is married) and Summer Joy (who travels the world as a medical missionary)   

They have completed their church facilities (building it about the same time we did) and now they are completing their sign also like we are! What a coincidence!

As you can tell it's a new facility - very nice inside.  Sorry I don't have inside pictures to show you. Their church is in Granbury Texas.

Check out their website at www.generationschurch.org 

This Texas congregation began in 1991 at the home of Ken and Barbara Smith, who had been hosting prayer meetings for some time. Being former members of Shady Grove Church of Grand Prairie and friends with the pastor, the Smith's and their fellow prayer meeting attendees, asked Pastor Olen Griffing to help them plant a new church.

Pastor Griffing immediately began sending leadership from Shady Grove Church of Grand Prairie on a regular basis to minister to this new flock, which became known as Shady Grove Church of Granbury. The group was solidified by the strong ministry that was being sent to them each week.

Eventually Pastor Olen recruited Alan and Yvette Latta to minister to the congregation's children every week. At the end of '91, they became the senior pastors of this new work, with a special call to serve the city of Granbury and the Body of Christ. (Since that time, they have also ministered at 13 other congregations in the Granbury area).

In the summer of 2002, after almost 11 years and 8 temporary locations, Shady Grove Church of Granbury finally moved into their own 12,500 sq. ft. building on 17.638 acres of land. (There is an additional 5,500 sq. ft. of 2nd floor space waiting to be completed in their next construction phase).

Now located on a rocky hill with no shade and no grove, being 3.4 miles from a road and subdivision also named Shady Grove, and having received Olen Griffing's blessing, the congregation has recently changed its official name to Generations Church of Granbury: which is less confusing to the community's newcomers and reflects their heart to be – a place for all people of all ages, for ages to come.

From the beginning, this Granbury church has slowly grown to 200 members. They hope to one day have a part in planting other congregations around this part of Texas . (This year they have had the joy of seeing several of their members do short-term mission trips to different countries).

With a strong commitment to worshiping God and ministering to people, this congregation is destined to grow as He continues to bless them.

I love my brother and I am proud of his ministry!

What I am doing today?

What am I doing today?  5 things.

My husband is out of town in business meetings dealing with our Foundation charity work. Today they are working on donations of huge quantities of aid for nations.  Hopefully he will feed 150,000 people  per load with what is happening in his meetings today. I just finished greeting everyone in the board room several states away through our Skype connection.  It's nice to see all of the influential men of purpose from  different states - wish I was with him on this trip. They all took a turn at the camera so I could see them and greet them and they could see me! Lisa (one of the ladies there in the meeting) and I are both wearing green today! The Bishop is very busy today!

Now ... I am going to go to our RMA store and work on a idea I have for a new design for a store fixture.  I need to figure out if I have enough grid work to make it happen.  I don't think I have any metal piping to use for the actual hanging areas - but it's time to start laying this out to see if it will work good.  Maybe 2 hours to create this system.

Go to my church office and spread out an entire curriculum for our Education Department and see what the company has sent to me.  I really need to put my mind on this to see if it's what we can use - to build up our classes. Call the company and get things moving - so I can make a report tomorrow to the Bishop's office.  This is probably a 2 hour process today.

Then work in my home office for a while on a huge stack of paperwork that has been patiently waiting on me to get it all back in order and organized. This is maybe 1 or 2 hour shift of work.

Computer work to be done - visitors to our Big Bang Drama - to check with our teachers to see what is happening with our new children. Report to be made to give to the Bishop's office. This is prob an hour's worth of work.   

I need to make several phone calls that will take an hour.  One to a young man who is struggling with a decision to become a pastor or not in Georgia.  One to a lady whose husband is very ill in the hospital - she needs my support.   One to a lady minister in California  concerning her upcoming trip here to be with me. And one to one of our ministers who is making some important plans about going to a new leval in the work of the Lord. 

Lunch with my sweet daughter.  Supper with my grandkids (maybe) Family Life classes tonight.  It's a busy day .......... better get started if I make a dent in this list today!