Gayla's Magazine

My first Christmas experience this year

I'm working at the Role Models of America charity store while I'm home and yesterday a little lady (mid 60's) came in.  She comes to me and whispers, "do you have a christmas tree I could buy for 20.00?"  I said sure and led her over to the few that are remaining... (most of the ones we had are already gone this year).  She says to me... "now I don't want you to give me one, I want to buy it. But I only have $20.00.  Do you have something in that price that I could get?" She looked at me so worried and a little embarressed.  

I looked around thinking.... hmmmm this might be a problem, we have mostly big ones and if she won't let me give her one, these are really big ones and above 35.00 each. She waited on me, watching me to find her something that will keep her dignity intact, be good enough to buy but not over what she has.  Finally I see one still in it's box, 6' tree marked for sale at 4.99, perfect!

When I showed it to her, she got such a look of relief in her eyes and smiled a huge smile at me.  Then I knew she was really hurting financially and really didn't have the money to spend, but her pride needed to be able to buy something and it not be a handout. She quietly said, "my children are coming to my home this Christmas and I haven't had a tree in years.  I didn't want them to know I didn't have anything special for Christmas. But I can't go to a big store, I just don't have that kind of money"

I gave her a big hug and a pat and told her, "now they can come and you will enjoy having them.  They will never know our secret, that you got a brand new tree for 5 bucks!  I'm so glad you have money left over, and thank you for coming to us to solve this little problem."

She left so happy.... I went on to help someone else.... but the glow in my heart stayed all day. Other trees are given away and those stories are special too, but this little lady touched my heart.. what if she had been my own mother, or yours? 

Visit www.rolemodelsofamerica.org to see what it's all about.....

 

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Turn around and look....

The Boardwalk of Life

My 'Pastor Wife' Friends.....

What happened today?

You have no idea.....

You really have no idea how the big picture of your entire life looks.  All you can see is the tiny portion of life that you are currently living.  But God sees your whole eternal being and wants to make you a portrait of inspiring beauty.

Never look at the temporary – relax in the fact God is painting a picture with your life that is far bigger than your mind can conceive. 

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The Boardwalk of Life

Turn around and look....

On this road of life...... there are people all along your pathway. 

When you pass by  them, the invisible brushes of your life touches each.  How shall the existence of
your life along the passageway through them become the beacon of light to show them also how to pass through life? 

Where you are going is leading others also. 

Turn around and look …… see those who are following you.  Where are you leading them?

Be a Role Model and make a difference in the world. 

www.rolemodelsofamerica.org

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What happened today?

Morning Devotion

The still small voice of God says within me.....  

In your world there are areas that man does not have control over in his quest to play
God.  These areas should show him that he still needs Me.

• 
  The progression of time - no one can stop
  time from moving.
• 
  The air currents flowing across the world -
  who can change the temperature?
• 
  The weather controls - can you stop
  tornado's? Lightening strikes? Rainstorms?
• 
  The movements of the Seas - the tides and
  currents that flow in and out, the power and force of the waves?
• 
  The supernatural occurrences in the Heavens
  Orbits? Falling stars? Magnetic pulls?
• 
  The earthquakes on earth - where they will
  occur next, and how to stop them?
• 
  The volcano's - who proposes their own
  strength to control them?
• 
  The power of death to take a life - who
  among man can stop death once it takes a life?
• 
  And Eternity? How shall man keep it from
  occurring with his own beliefs? And what human can keep from going there?
• 
  The body and blood of a single human being who chooses their own parents? Their sex? Their nationality?  Their own ethnic background? Who decides among you the choices of height and coloring and looks?

Man cannot control these areas - they are still firmly in My Hand and those that feel they are masters of their own destiny should consider these fields before they decide they are in control.

 

 

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She Never Imagined...

She was planning her Thanksgiving Dinner... the menu.... the guests... the table decorations.... the entertaining afternoon.  She never thought that this would be the reality she would face come Thanksgiving Day 2012.  Please say a prayer and support those who lost everything but their very lives in Hurricane Sandy. 

A sobering day for thousands of women who never imagined how their Thanksgiving was going to be in 2012.  Please donate at www.momsagainsthunger.org to help another mother this holiday season.

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Turkey Lurkey Business

Turkey Lurkey Business

So I had my turkey thawing in the fridge.... ready for the big day.  I ran into someone who was in need and before I thought - I told her I had a turkey she could have for her family.  Yay... she was thrilled and I was too.

Then..... I get in my car and drive to the office and remember, 'wait that was my turkey I just gave away'. Ha! Ha!  I didn't even think about it I just had one and she needed one and so there you are!

So it's back to the store to get another one.... hurry hurry gobble gobble ..Happy Turkey Day .

Mine will be much better when I set down with my family because I know a sweet family will also be having one too!

Hope you found someone too to help this Thanksgiving.

 

The Iron Lady

I loved this movie... I actually took notes during it because it was so inspiring. I'd like to see it again!!

"I too have a destiny to fulfill... must begin to carry myself as it I believe it.  I am not one of the girls but must be an advocate for those in whom I can make the most impact to help.... The Poor."

Happy Places

These pictures are  views of living actions... now silent  in my pictures.   Yet the water here is still rushing and noisy and I can hear the birds and the breeze is flowing over my brow. It was.... and still is a happy place in my mind.

Places that are refreshing to the mind and are sweet memories...

Solitude.... silence.... solace... helps to center the heart anew. It's hard to get still in the midst of choas and the actions of the modern world, yet we must if we are going to recenter, refresh and refocus our lives in wholeness. Happy hearts come from filled spirits.    

“In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.”  Mother Teresa, 'In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers. 

Where is your happy place and where do you go to restore your spirit?  Nature is God's  canopy of peace over us when we are alone with Him in quietness.

The Boardwalk of Life

How could the raging sea lift the boards of the boardwalk here in Queens New York, and leave them all intact together and just shove the entire boardwalk over the other section.  Not tear it up, but just lift and move it altogether as one piece.  Amazing.  I don't understand the power of the sea and how it moves with salty hands, reshaping everything in it's path, but here's the proof it does. 

Hmmm... if I can't trust circumstances to remain steady for me... and if the elements around my life can suddenly take charge and force my life in a new direction (which is something I never accept easily)  how can I keep from living in fear of storms?  The 'what ifs'  climb out the darkened closets of my mind and try to flesh out in my mind of what could happen, becoming apparitions of fear in life. I have learned not to hold on to anything in this life very tightly, but rather cling..climb into...cleave to my Father's Arms.  It's the only safety in this world.

It's not what happens in life that shapes your world...it's Who you hold on to that does. I will forever yield to His reshaping my life and my boardwalk for His own purposes.  There can be no other safe ground to stand upon. My  boardwalk life is for His feet to walk on.. He know just where He wants it to go. And there is no fear through the travels of life when He is the One in charge of the shaping. 

The Storm is Over

Have you ever felt like a storm would NEVER end?  I have. Yet here I stand on a beach after a major hurricane... the sea looks so peaceful and quiet now.  Yet the destruction left behind is proof of the power of the sea and the terror it can produce.

There is so much we don't understand about the atmospheric pressures and intensity of storms... yet I am sure that somehow, somewhere there is a purpose to it all.

Reminds me of life itself.... the dramas played out, the highs and lows, the intensity of emotions.. troubles and challenges... hurts and betrayels....it's all like 'hurricanes' in our own lives.  What is left standing after a major storm will be revamped, improved and strengthened in a better way.  And the rest that's now just 'trash'?  We find that we can live without the 'stuff' ... our values change as it's  our lives and the lives of our families that matter most now. 

If your storm is raging right now, just hold on it will end.  Hold on to what?  God. period. not people. just God.  He alone will ride out the storm with you and see you safely through it and bring you to a better place in life through the storm.