Gayla's Magazine

The Shower Prayers

 

"While you were standing in the shower crying over the recent events of your loss, I heard your cries.  I know you are afraid..... and have no idea what to do now.  You are but flesh, but I am the Almighty God and this is not too hard for Me. 

How?  You ask... I tell you the waiting day holds a promise for you.  Watch every small thing that happens, you will see My Hand moving in the midst of your despair.  Are you not My Own?  Have you been bought with a price? Then stand and watch your sorrow turn into a victory.  Again and again in your life". 

Oh to be a Kid again!

Funny how kids remember things on their level about the Hurricane Ike.  In their minds it was when they went on a road trip to Uncle Alan and Aunt Yvette's house.  They were talking about it and asking me if I remember how much fun they had!  I am glad that's what their reality is, still safe and secure. 

 

Remember MiMi when Mama turned on all the Christmas playthings and we laughed and laughed at all of the different animals all singing at the same time!

 

Remember MiMi.... where we ate lunch and how Mama had to change out her drink when it was too sweet for anyone to drink?

 

 

Can we go back to Granbury the next time it rains?  Ah..... kids we will have to see about that. 

 

Do you think PepperJack (their dog) remembers me and Gracie MiMi?

Oh the joys of being a innocent child.  

Wonder if that's how God sees us   - his kids.  While He sees the entire picture of our whole world, He guides us around many pitfalls when we follow Him.   

What Do I Do Now?

Sometimes life just hurts and when it does .......

You can try drowning your sorrows... but have to get sober sometime.

You can try medicating the hurts..... but only get addicted.

You can try entertainment to ease the pains..... but when it's over then what?

You can try walking out of your life, but it won't fix the brokenness

Or..... you can give your entire heart and soul and body to the Lord Jesus Christ and give up in surrender to Him.

He can take the worst nightmares and turn them into beautiful dreams. 

  

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you said the Lord,  thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.

Then shall ye call upon Me and ye shall go and pray unto Me and I will hearken unto you
ye shall seek Me and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

And I will be found of you saith the Lord. 

Next......

Today begins the series of insurance adjusters and their paperwork  on helping us to overcome our damages now It's a process.  The agent for our house is here from another state and she is detailing out every part of damage we have.  Picture taking ..... measurements..... around inside and out. I even saw her on the roof of our garage.   Notes .... notes and more notes. 

She has 85 houses to work on herself!!  She has a printer in her car and works from it as a on site office. 

Farmers Insurance is on the ball! And we are next in line......

www.lattainsurance.com  

All the Water in the World......

 

All the water in the world

however hard it tried

could never sink a ship

unless it got inside.

 

All the evil in the world

can never sink the soul

unless it got inside. 

I am reminded of this little saying as we see horrific sights of entire communities submerged under water.  And when the people come back to see their homes in ruins.. you can easily tell who has built on the Rock Christ Jesus.  The flood waters have not gotten inside their hearts and drowned them. They have a real peace and know that God will help them to overcome this time and it will become a blessing in the long run.

Others are faced with fears and incredible black mountains of worry and stress.

How do you react in the dark night of the soul?

It all depends on Who is inside ......

Can you imagine.......

 

I don't think even Hurricane Katrina looked like this! It has taken almost 2 weeks to clear the roadways of the millions of dollars of people's lives strewn across the entire island. Today is a important day.  It's when the population of Galveston is allowed back in.  Our freeways are completely clogged with miles of cars slowly driving back as if in a gigantic funeral procession. 

Please pray for the thousands of families, who are seeing the devastation of their homes and businesses for the first time.  They really NEED YOUR PRAYERS.  Can you imagine.... your entire life and years of labor building a life now gone and all you have is the clothing and what ever you had put in your car before leaving home in front of Hurricane Ike.

Funds are low...... how do you even find anything that looks like your possessions..... it's hot and sticky...... no place to cool off..... no job now..... no food..... no place to sleep...  no electricity anywhere.... no water.....

Can you imagine the fear?  The worries?  The danger of being homeless?  The despair they must be feeling right now while I am writing this.  How insecure each family now feels?  Please spend some time today praying for your brothers and sisters in Galveston Texas.

The pictures tell it all

In the afternoon  I suddenly was overwhelmed and exhausted emotionally. It felt like I couldn't take another step. So I crept away and laid down and covered up with a blanket and felt the deep loss of our city.  Tears and praying, sorrow and grief overcame me seeing the life of our part of the world forever changed. 

You can't begin to imagine what has happened here.  My husband posted pictures today that tell it all.  www.gregoryholley.com   look at today's post and click on the link he has.  Unbelievable. Please look at this pictures to truly see the power of this storm and what it has done to life on the Gulf Coast. Please pray for all of us here.

Seabrook Texas Hurricane Ike Relief

 

My husband the Bishop, confers with the Mayor of Seabrook for coordination of incoming aid and supplies for this town.  Right now their town is operating under a tent!! Serious losses here for the whole town. 

  Jesse and friends want to help make a difference with Role Models of America here in Seabrook.  So a free store is set up in the interior of a flooded church with free clothing etc for survivors.

  

 

Within two days the church was filled with clothing, shoes, diapers, baby goods, linens, gas cans, igloos, toys, back packs, purses, you name it.

 

This little lady from San  Leon lost her home - 6 feet of water, she needs everything. There are 12 people all crowded together in her family without anything.  Role Model Heather takes care of her.

 

 

This is the way every street looks that we drove down in Seabrook.  A terrible sight to see.  The town is in need of everything!  I heard about one family among thousands,  a family who lost their home and their jobs and now are living out of their car.  The hard working citizens of the USA need our support and our help now America!

 

We rushed hastily and set up a semi trailer (thanks to Tire Source for jumping in!) to receive household goods as kind hearted people stopped by to give. As best this is temporary, but when your children have lost all their clothing everything is appreciated, and suddenly looks are not nearly so important as provision.

Thanks to Shelby, and Heather for filling in and helping to get this started. Jesse you are making a difference!! Also thank you Pastor Rob and First Baptist for letting us use your church building to get things rolling here.   

 

 

What is Going On?

 

This is a plane at our airport just outside of our subdivision where we live. I know thousands of people here feel just like this - their world is ripped in two and upside down! The back end of this plane is laying way across the field!

 

It's long days of hugs and encouragement to countless numbers of people. I think our totals ended up being 1 million 80,000 pounds of goods before our pod was over. 

  

Press coverage........donations..... ideas from all corners..... phone calls (when cells work!) People coming from our community to help out...... eating cold food..... sleeping maybe 4 hours a night...... checking on our church family....... electricity problems...... lost flashlights...... don't forget to smile....... no income.......church buildngs a mess..... our community center crawling with people...... where are the grandchildren? ...... our thrift store a mess...... our warehouses completely upside down! ..... who is feeding our dog? .... where IS our dog?  Does anyone have fuel to spare?.... I wonder what shape my house really is in?  No time to go and really look it over right now!

 

She is missing her two babies too.  She watches over the public from one standpoint, and we do from another.

 

Just don't get hit by an 18 wheeler in the church parking lot!!

Life is crazy at times isn't it?  Can't wait for a hot shower (it was 4 days before I would get that luxury)

And you think there is not a God?