For 37 birthdays, and 37 special Christmases, 37 New Years and 37 Easters, for 37 new beginnings, for 37 unbelievable miracles and 37 unforgetable trials we've been through. For 37 healings and 37 awesome events. 37 near death experiences and 37 breakthoughs, 37 really GOOD TIMES and 37 times of private laughs. For the nations and peoples we have served in the world.... For 1 sweet daughter, 2 Gkids and 1 precious baby in Heaven... we are still together after all these years...
G and G.... still together... after all these years...
This picture brings back memories of my mother's luggage. She had this very set! I just had to take this picture in a Samsonite shop while shopping for travel bags recently. Mother was so proud of her luggage and it went everywhere with her.... making her distinctive in travel as she has always been. The luggage has went by the wayside some years ago left probably in some foreign land along her travels - wonder if it's still being used. The stuff may be indistructable, who knows?
She will soon be here for Christmas.... I'm looking forward to seeing her. My loving Mom. Wish she was here now... if she still had that luggage I'd be tempted to keep it always - just for old times sake. Now I'm the one traveling the most, but she's the one who always packed joy in her suitcase no matter where she had to live.
My mother's luggage.... need to keep it in mind what to pack alongside my clothes these days.
I'm so mad today.... not just 'sad' not just 'hurt' for all the people who have lost their children in another school shooting...but really upset. I'm crying too! Everybody wants to know 'why' this happened. That can be solved when we look at the 'cause' of this horror. Hurt people hurt people! We know this.... but everyone seems to be so asleep in their own worlds until this type of terror happens then it's 'why.... why?'
Here's what I want to know...
WHY is it that it's so hard to find workers to help in children's ministries in churches across America?
WHY is it nearly impossible to find volunteers to help in youth ministries?
WHY is it that churches have to hire workers to help in their nurseries?
WHY don't people get involved? Selfishly motivated "christians" who only think of themselves....
Is this child not worth time and effort and personal expense???
"I'm not "called" to work with teens.... to help with children.... to labor with love over little ones" I have heard those words so many times in my 37+ years of ministry. But the end result of a lack of care for the children of America, brings diseaster.
They have issues happening as a child, no one seems to notice or care about. Abuse.... neglect... social rejections...fears... behavior problems....hungry for love.... hungry for food. And as an adult somewhere there becomes a straw that breaks the camel's back and they snap. Life becomes too much to bear... and the reign of terror starts and ends in horrible tragedy. The problems didn't begin when he picked up the guns, it began as a little boy somewhere in a hurt past.
Who can we blame now?
1. Not the overcrowded and overworked school teachers.
2. Certainly not the parents who are too busy climbing ladders to nowhere.
3. Can't be the fault of the Church at large.... no one seems to want to be bothered with children anymore. It's always someone else who needs to do that messy work.
4. The government can't be blamed... all the programs in the world won't fix a broken spirit even heavily funded political programs.
5. Oh yeah.... don't forget to blame 'guns'. Yes.... that's the reason here.... blame guns.
5. So kids are forced to go to drugs, drinking, wild living, wrong influences... gangs.... no one else is listening or cares.
And we are shocked with this type of bloodshed happens???
Who's to blame?
Look in the mirror and see if you can tell.....
What are YOU doing to help the children in this nation? Where will you be setting on sunday morning? Saturday morning? Wednesday night? or Friday nights? Or any day/night of the week when youth and children have events planned and carried out by a precious few... a precious few people who care.
Actions are speaking louder than excuses or reasons. Where are the volunteers? Those who unselfishly give of themselves in churches and charities across America.... without being paid... without needing someone to pat them on the back... without any other reason than THERE IS A HUGE GAP HERE AND I AM NEEDED TO HELP.
Candlelight services are held in churches filled with grieving parents who lost the little lights of their lives yesterday.... and the unspoken, unseen needs will go unfilled come sunday morning.
Wake up America.... Why? Really? We already know the 'why' it's the 'WHO' ... who cares enough to do something about the hurting children and teens. That's going to stop this type of tragedy.
Moms and Dads, Young Adults, Seniors, Widows and Widowers, Everybody but the Pastors in our nation are held accountable here. The Pastor's are begging for workers... they know the trouble, just don't have enough helpers. Hmmmm have you noticed a call for volunteers lately in your church?
Will you ever have time..... no make time...... to help?
Stop asking 'why' ask instead.... "when will I do something to help the troubled kids of this nation"
Shame on the people who will only 'set' in church on Sunday... every classroom should be filled with parents and caring adults saying, "let me volunteer and help save a life here."
Going through airports and checkpoints takes time. Sometimes all day long................................
But once on the plane, it's an awesome workspace! No phones, no texts, no emails, no staff, no activities to get done... just brain power time. Shhhh don't tell me I can connect online while in the sky, I really don't want to.
While flying it's my time..... time to write, I can get entire chapters written while 40,000 feet high in the sky. One day these books will be done and I will publish.... (big secrets until released)
So just for today - I'm looking forward to time to write...... again.
Hugs.... tears.... grateful hearts....encouragement.... answers to prayers.... toys.... food.... clothing.... dishes..... christmas trees..... ornaments..... all kinds of detail items.
Planning giveaways..... gathering goodies ...... counting to be sure we have enough..... staff laughter.... staff special little gifts..... planning our new break room together.... synergy between all of us.
Christmas time is full of everyday joys and busy activities at Role Models of America.
Get a notebook and start keeping a daily dated record of activities. This will serve as a reference in case we need to go back and see what was done that day.
Plan your work – list everything that needs to be done today.
Number the levels of importance of each (what to do first, second, ect)
This is based off of all the operations of the store, and who is responsible for each area. Teamwork means we get projects done when we work together. (Outside, Inside, Front, Back, Upstairs Ect.)
First priority is doing what will impact the total picture first. So number the list starting with #1 for first thing to be done.
Work your plan – keep your list handy all day so that you don’t get distracted. It also will help you to remember all that is to be done daily.
Check each thing off as you complete it. This gives satisfaction and accomplishment at the end of each day.
Follow the Daily / Monthly Checklists that are in place.
If you were unable to complete something – put it on the next days list (don’t forget it… it was important to the whole operation and remains so)
Talk about a roller coaster highs and lows day! Today was it for me....
Get to the store and open up with the staff, we are planning the days activities and what all has to be done. The store was a mess from Saturday's rush of people. So I'm finishing up with them with a little prayer, and notice we had a customer already inside. Don't know how he got there but he was a little unsettling coming around the corner to me. He immediately wants to talk about why we have certain types of books, cd's, videos, and dvd's for sale. "i thought you guys were Christians" As the Christian music played in the background, I gently told him this was a store for everyone. We couldn't reach people who didn't know Jesus, if we were just a Christian store. This conversation went on and on.... He didn'tseem to like my answers, but finally admitted he had never seen the movie (one of which he didn't agree with us for having in the store) 'Lord of the Rings'. At that point I realized maybe he just didn't understand. So I tried to move on.... it took me 30 minutes to get free. By now the store is rocking and the isles are full of people. Some of who need my attention, I feel the pressure start to build.
My phone rings.... a single mom I've been working with went to court today (she thought it would be a parole case) The judge threw the law at her and gave her 10 years in prison. They immediately shackled her and took her away. She falls apart crying and has to be carried out. She is in shock... no one went to court with her today. Now there are 8 children that no one knows what to do with, or how to tell them what has happened to their mommy. I'm choking back tears while I'm being told this shocking news.... I see customers out of the corner of my eye who are impatiently waiting on each other to check out. My heart is breaking for her.... she didn't expect this... she didn't prepare for this emotionally... I'm worried about her.
I don't want my staff to get rattled by all the people so I stay close by.
A lady comes up to tell me, why on earth is ---- not here? I gently told her we want our staff to have a day off, as they work so hard. She seemed like she didn't think that should happen. I bite my tongue and walk to the back of the store.
Donations are pouring in.... people are just setting things down and leaving. The staff member at this station is running back and forth, up and downstairs so very busy. He can barely keep up with incoming and outgoing.
I'm called to the front... lady asks me if I still need backpacks for my upcoming giveaway. I said, 'yes... please I'm still short'. She goes out to her car and brings me three. I'm touched. Then she tells the next shopper in line (whom she does not know) You need to go to your house and bring Gayla your kids' backpacks... she needs them and your kids arn't using them anyway." The lady looks strangely at me... I'm at a loss of how to sooth both ladies, of whom I don't know either of them. I'm giggling inside, until a mad shopper wants to know why some other woman got her 'doll' and she didn't. We try to help people understand don't lay things down on the counter, because another shopper WILL pick it up and buy it before you know it.
A elderly woman calls me outside to see some tall mirrors we have. She likes them, and before I can get my male staffer over to help, she talks another customer into helping carry it for her. He lugs it inside the store, then he has to wait for her to check out, then carry it to her car. Before it's all said and done, they are friends and walk out together. She's flirting with him... and he's proud a woman is looking at him! (no matter her age) Lol. Smiles all around over this.... cougers shop here too!!
Then a man I've been working with to help him with food and clothing comes in.... I think maybe there might be a job for him... so I call. Can't get through. He leaves dejected and I feel bad for him. I know he thinks life is over and his hopes are dashed. But I don't know what else to do so I let him go....
Lunchtime with my babe. He has big news to share and we spend the hour rushing through subjects and plans and a bowl of soup and back out the door. I get back to the store and he rushes on into his responsibilities as well.
Whoa.... someone has wheeled a big couch out in the parking lot... in the middle and left it there. What tha?!? There are no parking spaces left...I just jump out and run get a staffer to move the couch. What are people thinking? It could have rolled into someone's car (that's another story and already has happened under my care a different day and a different location)
The Warehouse staffer is here... I need to make some fast decisions for his department today. We do so while I run between people, donors and questions.... oh and don't forget to unload the donation bins out front.
My friend comes back... "think we might call your friend about that job one more time? I'm desparate for one" Sure we do.... we manage to get through....I call and put him on the phone.... he talks to him.... I see him smile for the first time EVER. He agrees to meet with him tomorrow. Yes!!! He gets off the phone and I decide to take the bull by the horns and tell him.... 'ok now you can't go into a interview looking like this." He looks down at his ragged shirt and jacket and looks shamed at me and tells me it's all I got. "My clothes are all so big on me now." I go to the racks and immediately find him a nice shirt and a jacket. He says Pastor Gayla you might be acting like my mother. I said, "yes I am... I'm everybodies mom these days. Take this with you, and come tomorrow looking sharp. Your first impression is your important one." He wants to know what he owes me for helping him so much.
My throat swells with compassion and I tell him, he just needs to get back right with God and serve the Lord. That would be my payment. He just smiles and says "I'll be good."
Oh don't forget the widow lady who has lost so much weight she doesn't have many clothes to wear now. I see just the right things for her.... I'm so excited now and can't wait to give them to her... she's going to be thrilled. It's sure to be a boost to her spirit!
It's time to leave.... my feet are aching, I'm tired.... but it's a happy tired.... except for the hurt in my heart for the single mom. Much prayers need to be done for her and her children.
I have big plans for the store this Christmas Eve.... I will tell you later about all that later.... so exciting!!! I drive home and remember not to be on my cell phone in the school zone and drive the speed limit too. I remember His Words to me....
I have removed you from the business of the Church....
to the reason for the Church.... the lost.
I have had 'church' all day long.... just not in the 'church house'. My emotions have been highs and lows all day long. It's hard to be nice to someone who shoves past me when I won't let him take a christmas tree for pennies. What? Yes that happened.... but the very next person genuinely appreciates the store and sees the value of what is here and wants to do their part to help. And they can't wait to purchase the very same tree because they know the reason why we are here and how it helps to cover the budget of helping those who need our help. Whew what a day....
It's the busy season (when is it not) and I am making lists of what to do each day (like always) and the clock is racing me to see who can beat the holiday schedule....
But just for today I'm ahead. For the first time in my history... I am ready for Christmas ALREADY. I can't believe it.... and don't really know how that happened. I'm working everyday and have activities going with the different oporations I'm responsible for daily. And somehow managed to get my home decorated, and all the gifts gathered AND WRAPPED. i just can't believe it....
Somehow this happened and I am so glad about it. No rushing around this year exhausted on Christmas week. I'm going to be calm, cool and collected. Was it my age? ....did I just 'get it'?...could it be time stood still and let me catch up?
No.....
I figured it out...... I haven't wasted any time watching television. I'm blaiming the TV for wasting women's time. So friends.... here's a challenge .... from now till Christmas week don't watch the 'idiot box' and see how much real time you collect each day. I'm sure you will be amazed like me!
Merry Christmas ladies... by the way... go see The Decorated House blog and see some beautiful Christmas decorations. She can make docorating your home easy this year.
I planned to go to Dickens on the Strand and take my daughter and Gkids for the beginning of the Christmas season this year.
We planned outfits and all the exciting things we would do and see there. The weather was nice and dry and we headed out for a day long trip back into the 19th century. We really looked forward to this day.
Things were going well... they loved seeing all the costumed elegant ladies and handsome gentlemen strolling around. The english 'Bobbies' and the historical army in place, the horses and all details in place.
Then little by little strange 'people' began to trickle out onto the streets. They didn't look 'victorian', nor did they fit in with the average person attending the festivities. They were called 'Steampunks'. These people dress in a type of science fiction that focuses on steam powered machinery items. They dress in a fantasy type of the alternate history of the 19th century, but also represents the post-apocalyptic future where steam power is back in use. They also add in elements of horror, fantasy as well as historical fictional behaviors. This term steampunk got started in the 1980's apparently. Leather clothing, bondage behaviors chains and masks AND all sorts of weaponry seemed to be the norm with these people.
It added a different dimension to the entire Dickens experience.. many were bold, clothing was scanty on the women, and lots of knives, swords, face masks, gas masks, whips and gears, clocks and metal pieces' hanging all over them. I was uneasy... they promoted a certain amount of lawlessness and sexual perversion around them. They didn't seem to be playing dress up here. They strutted around as if they were demanding attention. All the weapons in such a big crowd wasn't wise either. I saw knives in boots, strapped on forearms, swords across their backs, and daggers at waistbands. I overheard someone say, 'are these some kind of cartoon characters?" It didn't have anything to do with Dickens or the historical representation of the purpose of the event. We walked around a while trying to focus on the parts that I remembered Dickens on the Strand being about.
Eventually I find us a good place to see the parade and we set down on the curb to watch the parade.. kids had their turkey legs and corn on the cob and mugs of orange sodas. All the regular victorian parts came past us.... bands, costumed ladies and gentlemen....the 'Queen' in her carrage... the choirs singing christmas carols. Then the steampunks come past us - in droves in the parade,
Then one of 'them' decides to come straight at us. He is naked from the waist up, his pants about to fall off as low as he could get them. He has strips of fur around him (who he was supposed to be must be some character out of a video game I guess?) Anyway he stops right in front of us - my grandchildren are looking right at him. He pulls a lady out of the crowd standing behind us and she has to step over us to get to the street. (She is just in street clothes .. not part of their group) He twirls her around then he pulls out a whip with it looked like 9 strips of leather on it and starts to whip her behind!!
I was shocked...it made my blood run cold. When he hit her the second time, without thinking... I stood up!! I stepped out onto the street in front of the hundreds watching and i stopped him. I said, "have you no decency? There are children right in front of you... and you are at a family event. Stop this ... right now!!"
He looked at me.... stopped whipping her.. said "uh"... She ran back into the crowd terribly embarressed I am sure. He turned around and marched on with the group in the parade.
Everybody stared at me... I didn't care. Where were the mothers of all these children watching...and why didn't they join me in stopping this behavior? My daughter had quickly put her hands over the eyes of my grandchildren when it happened. I quietly sat back down.... but my 'Holy Spirit' was jumping inside of me!! It took a while before I calmed down... I could have preached a sermon right there and then, there was so much anointing flooding my spirit!!
I guess you might say it was righteous indignation... didn't matter. enough was enough. If 'steampunks' are supposed to be some sort of entertainment ... it's not the sort that moms and dads with children will want to have around.
Sadly I'm not sure I'll go back... darkness is prevading the land... and no one is saying a word about it. What happened within the Historical Society in Galveston Tx. that allowed this??
