Gayla's Magazine

Pastor Robert Vaughn

  Pastor Robert Vaughn is the fantastic worship pastor at New Life.  After 15 years of leading worship myself  it's soooo wonderful to hear his ministry and get to enjoy his leadership when we are home.   He is both talented and anointed to lead worship and Sunday the House was rocking!! Always something fresh... the music is awesome... and he is a fine man of God.

It was a special time for us to be home..... and a special treat for me.  Pastor Robert ask me to sing a song with the choir!

It was fun to be back with the choir for just a day!!

They are working on taking choir pictures so I got to set in on this set of pictures.  Sunday was a treat!!

 

The Blessing of Writing

"Without saying words..... you will shout to the nations"  

Writing is a joy in my personal life and lots of journals are filled with the various stages and experiences in the drama of life.  Abraham Lincoln said, "Writing is the only way the dead can reach the unborn". 

So true..... someday when I am in Heaven all that has been recorded will be read again by my great grandchildren and hopefully bless their lives with knowledge and understanding.   All  written pages will cause them to value their heritage and know me!

When your voice is silent.... and your hands are but dry bones of history .... will your message and actions still preach?  And will the voice of your life still be heard?

Start the book of your life today..... there is another Book being written already about you.  God's Book - will His and yours match?

Angels Among Us

We have to head down side roads trying to avoid the main intersections and possible attacks.  Through little dirt 'streets' to get to another church.  We did make it there but missed the pastor.  This area is so unstable it's become impossible to keep times and schedules as the population is uneasy and afraid of the cartel who seems to be trying to take control.

We see men simply standing on corners.... just standing and watching us.  I admit I did grab the Lord's hand a little closer as we had to go past them on these little neighborhoods.  I should have brought a hat to hide the blond hair!!!

Strange to see a big rig down here - is it hidden?  Is it seized by someone using it for ransom?  Wonder why it's here.  There are NO PEOPLE outside.  I have never seen a mexican neighborhood without mama's and little children outside.  The mama's talking while their children play.  This is certainly a sign as to the climate of Mexico now.

Then suddenly we need angelic help!  Our host had taken his air compressor out of the vehicle to make room for all the food we brought.  Now suddenly  we ran over something laying in the 'street' and the back tire goes flat and and we have no supplies to fix it.  So he digs around and finds a old can of 'fix a flat'.  We all got out and prayed it would work, while he filled the flat tire with it. The tire fills up nicely- so we stand  beside him and pray against any unusual activity around us.  No way would we let him get out by his self in this tense area - we would all three be together no matter what might happen. 

I know there are angels around us..... men down the street watch us closely, but never took a step toward us.The tire holds up perfectly all the way back to the USA.

Later we hear that another Pastor  has been kidnapped and held for ransom.  May God send Angels to release Pastor Pedro today.  Will you join me in praying for him today?

Never forget someone this very moment needs God's Angels! Moms Against Hunger is dependant upon His help for each and every delivery of food for the needy. www.momsagainsthunger.org

 

 

Border Missions

Preparing to go back across the border into Mexico, we were taken to meet two hard working Pastors- Jerry McKnight and his wife, who are at  Border Missions.  Located close to the border on the US side, they care for the needs of pastors and churches in Mexico.  Unable to cross now because of the ongoing danger we stopped by to encourage them in their work. 

Each week pastors come  here for services and prayer and practical supplies for their churches in Mexico. This building has served their needs for many years.It is a vital lifeline to entire churches and orphanages in Mexico. 

Pastor Jerry shows us the food that has been gathered up for the giveaways that will happen during the week.  They have to trust God to provide for them each week.  Boy does THAT sound familar! Each week miracles happen and they have enough to give out.

This is their clothing center - I am proud to see another ministry taking care of the poor.

His wife takes care of a sewing class weekly that provides skills training and products. I love it!

Helping women to learn to sew is a worthy education they can take back to Mexico and use to help support themselves.

After our tour we gathered supplies from Border MInistries and headed out for the border - we knew they were praying for our trip.

Why do we in the ministry care about practical needs of the poverty stricken poor? Because of children like this little boy. He is bright and normal, his parents simply cannot find enough work, enough food, enough opportunities to take care of him and his future.  The Mexico Pastors are doing all they can to help support their people and find answers for their lives.  Is the life of this little boy worth the risk?

To God he is......a special thank you to Border Ministries for all you do!! 

As you give to those in need - Jesus said 'you did it unto Me'.   www.momsagainsthunger.org

Meditations of my heart today

Be Still and Know that I AM GOD

Be Still and Know that I AM...

Be Still and Know....

Be Still....

A New Sign

The new sign goes up.... the team has been working on this for a while and it's nice to see it finally up.

New Life Christian Fellowship has a fresh face.... it's a new chapter!  We are the proud parents!!  Pastors Sean and Angela will be awesome! 

What You Say is What You Get!

Let's see...... what would you like to get today? 

Oh I know people often use surface words when "wishes' are spoken into the air.  "Ooooooo I want to be rich, smart, have lots of money, lots of friends, and be famous too!"

Really think about it...if you say 'I want to be wealthy' the detirmining factors that constitutes wealth - (if you mean money) consists of hard hard hard work, long long long hours, sacrificing hours and hours of your personal life, your family and ones own lifetime of existence, AND  investing for years before payback starts happening. Just generally sticking to the grind of everyday work.  Naively spoken the usual person is not really willing to risk everything to gain their wishes. It often means going without personally for the bigger picture in the future.  

If the meaning of wealthy means 'no more work for me!' These are two opposites that can't happen.  Only those who enjoy working will actually gain the fruit of it.

The Bible says 'Faith without works is dead.'

So simply saying 'I want such and such in my life' can't really happen unless your words match your work. 

So say what you mean, and do what you say...

'Help.... I need help....' I have heard these words from needy people, who when offered solutions for their particular situation, suddenly change course and go the other way.  Excuses and unwillingness to grow will never take one to the placement of fulfilled dreams.  And so they stumble along life thinking no one wants to help, when really the only one who won't help is 'self'. 

Saying and doing are two separate things.  Could this be the reason life bumbles along in circles?

Saying 'I want good health' and yet refusing to be personally responsible for what we do with our personal lifestyle, vitamins, self control, and making healthy choices is diametrically opposed to having good health.   If junk food is your favorite 'food group'  expect the same results in your body..... no energy, no vitality and certainly poor health down the road. Because there simply are no vitamins or minerals in junk food.Fried food is just that - FRIED.  Everything good is gone.

If you want a great marriage, it takes hard work, patience, long suffering, kindness and refusal to quit.  A good marriage will never happen with any one you marry, the rules are the same no matter if you exchange one spouse for another.It never changes .... you can't get a great marriage without appreciation, personal work and time.

"I want good friends in my life".  If you don't use wisdom, acceptance, manners and the work of loving kindness - you will always end up with broken relationships. 

Need I go on? 

So today..... say what you want to happen, and then do the steps it takes to get there.

The power of life and death are in the tongue.... God's word always gives us secrets revealed.

 

The Vision of the Hand

In prayer I saw a vision of a  hand that had been hit over and over by a hammer.  The hand was seriously injured and had become bludeoned almost beyond use.  This was the 'hand of service' and was a clear picture of someone who had served in God's Kingdom in many ways down through the years. Through circumstances, people and demonic influences this person's 'service' had been severely hurt. So wounded they no longer were able to use their hand of service.

And I heard the Father whisper...."put your broken hand in My hand... I too was destroyed by a hammer".  And I saw the Lord take that broken hand and the broken hand went into the nail scar of the Lord's hand. The Lord Jesus grasped the hand and took control....

And when the broken hand of service was released it was filled from within with the Lord's presence.  As if the Lord's hand was inside the injured hand.  Now no longer was it just a hand healed, but it was now filled with the Lord's Presence and directed by Him.  The human hand was now a glove with the Presence of the Lord inside working through it.

Be at peace.... it takes brokenness of self to be released into fullness of God's perfection and direction.

When I am weak.... then I am strong...

Relief....... finally!

My personal world started going grey a month ago when my tooth pain started getting very serious, but there literally was no time to stop or place to take care of it. So asprin, tooth pain gel and prayer have kept me going..... a whole bottle of asprin and a swollen face  plus 1600 miles later my face and I got relief!

I have a great dentist in Mexico and my oh my was I glad to see him safe and sound and still in his office!

Was it fun? NO... but it was worth all the pain and the hours I spent in the chair. I can still hear the drilling happening in my head!  Each day more shots and more drilling as he got things straightened out for me. Here is the root canal expert that he called in to take care of the most serious one.  Wow this guy was really good.

I have 'seen the light' and hopefully I will put myself first  instead of last when it comes to my teeth in the future!  The diagnosis?  2 ROOT CANALS A POST AND 3 CROWNS!  Finally the swelling is gone and no more pain killers for me(yesterday was my last dose of meds) I am feeling so much better thank God!! 

He kept shaking his head at me and wondering how I was able to take the pain when things were so bad.  I have to say I guess the Lord gave me grace and the pain never got uncontrollable until the last week.  Relief... finally!

Dr Luis.... you are a winner THANK YOU!   THANK YOU!   THANK YOU!!

The Real World around us all......

Children like this put the real world in perspective for me.  This child literally has nothing.  No possible future to plan for.....not much clothing......no secure home to live in.... not even regular meals to count on.  Now seriously can any of us really complain about anything in our lives? 

Someone said to me recently, "if you feed them.... they will only reproduce and make more babies"  I was speechless to think of the absolute ignorance and selfishness of people who have never suffered long term hunger, or the feelings of never having enough or sickness that those who live without proper food are plagued with, or the OVERWHELMING suffering that the poor around this world live with every day. This statement burned in my heart while I was hugging this little boy. 

This little boy needs help.... this mother will do her best to help him. 

Please count your blessings.... and visit http://www.momsagainsthunger.org and donate now to show your gratitude for having enough for your own children.  Even poor people deserve to have a family.