Gayla's Magazine

Covid19!

  

The time for 'ease in Zion' is over..... no more comfort zones of just hearing the Word and being relaxed in nice comfortable surroundings and let someone spoon feed us.  With Covid19, the church has arisen and is beginning to feed herself from the table of God's Word.  Time to get up.... time to put on the armor of God.... time to enlist the energies of faith itself for personal strength.  

Who knows if God allowed this to awaken the church at large? To see what the level of our own spiritual strength is?  How much depth do we have as believers when 'church' is no longer available?  To take our own spiritual temperature and see if we are on fire for God, or just lukewarm after all.  Do we have to have a church service to feel 'connected to God'?  Or will we see the wisdom of God and have 'church' for our own selves daily in our own homes and hearts.  Where is the zeal shut up in our bones, and where is the anointing hovering over our own hearts.  

Rise!  Stand! Speak the Word of God for yourself! The years of pew setting are over, stand up and proclaim Christ alive in your own life.  Wake up sleepy head, it's time to go into the fields and reap the harvest.... for the King may arrive at any moment.  May He find us all alert, awake and about the Father's business this very day.  Arise church...... trim your lamps ....... arise!  

What are you afraid of?

 

 

So what ARE you called to do?

The 'Lady Legends' Luncheon

Planning a luncheon for women in leadership while juggling various other functions became a joy to prepare for. How? By creating a big salad bar...... at the table! Talk abut fun.... it was! And it was interesting for each guest to enjoy as well. 

My daughter Angela and I came up with four great salads to serve for our guests.  They could choose either a Summer salad with all the mixes and tastes of an American style salad served  with ranch dressing.  Or a Greek salad with the spicy mingling of Italian condiments and dressing. There also was an Asian salad with the crunchy and sweet flavors, and last but not least was a Mexican salad complete with avocados, cheeses and taco touches. 

The ladies loved it.  Each lady had a big bowl of various lettuces at her setting, with grilled chicken on top.  Then she could choose the type of salad to enjoy.  I served each style of the salad toppings on long rectangle dishes. Each platter was self explanatory to each type of salad, and I labeled small creamers with the names of salad dressings on each one. 

Also at each place setting was placed this little dish with sugar cubes, mint leaves and a little kabob of blueberries and raspberries. A tall glass of lemonade was next to each place setting.  The ladies could add more sweetness or flavor as desired.  Every one enjoyed the details of something different at my Lady Legends Luncheon.  Looking forward to planning the next one soon!

There is no better words to describe longing after the Lord Jesus....

 

Prayer.... it's what's most important.

 Prayer time is sometimes just 'being' alone with Him. 

Sometimes it's joy...... sometimes it's requests...... sometimes it's tears.  

However the time is spent together is so very meaningful and enjoyable. 

Peace and rest always come because of the time spent together...... not to mention the answers, comfort and miracles that follow! Spending time with God is paramount above all others. 

So glad I know Him. 'Be still and know that I am God' moments are so soothing to the soul. 

It's where He is mine and I am His. 

Begin with this statement..... "Here I am, I am yours God."  See what happens next in your life.  

The Woman's Tears

She couldn’t take it anymore, there was no sense in crying in the house, the people inside were trying to understand this horror and were all grieving differently. Creeping outside as silently as she could, her sandals crunching the sandy rocks beneath her feet, she stopped and held her breath, listening for any sounds of male feet suddenly moving. No sounds were heard and she stepped carefully onward heading down the stone steps, adjusting her basket as to not click the small clay jars of ointment inside. The further she walked, slowly sights came into view as the mists of night were shredded by fingers of pale light. Her heart skipped a beat as she considered how she might get past the guards. Frowning thru the overwhelming rush of emotions that threatened to break her voice open into loud weeping, she held her breath while she walked to force back the waves of tears. Her perception of what had happened, had left her frozen in a labyrinth of scenes she could not unsee in her mind. His hand opening and then slowly gripping the nail that fastened it to the cross. The sound of his voice from above when he spoke down to his mother and John, from within tortures grasp. His tears of blood dripping down on the rocks below. Scene after scene played out in her mind as she stepped quicker towards the grave. The last scene of his lifeless bare arm slipping out from the white burial cloth and dangling next to the ground while others carried him was too much to bear. She quickened her steps to focus her mind against the power of death that she has watched when he died. She wanted to get there.... the last place he was.... Stumbled by a root in the ground she suddenly realized he would be just around the corner in the rocky tomb. She rounded the corner and stopped short in the scruffy grass, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in a silent scream. In disbelief and dismay, with shocked fear she was suddenly aghast! The soldiers were gone..... the tomb was open... where was the stone? Her head jerked back and forth in confusion where was the stone? With a thud the basket dropped to the ground, yet she was unaware that she had done so. Where were the soldiers! Her eyes saw the darkened opening of the tomb, but in her mind she made a confused decision. “they have taken the body of my Lord!!! WHY!!!!”
Her breath became ragged, her heart increased its rate with adrenaline and urgency. “WHERE WOULD THEY HAVE TAKEN HIM?!?”
In slow motion she feels her body moving towards the darkened opening. One foot step inside, one racing heartbeat and one sound changed everything!
In a daze she stepped back outside her eyes filled with tears and her heart blinded to what had been said inside from the stone ledge. Mary sees a man standing outside in the sunlight.... he called her name.... in disbelief she realizes
“HE CALLED MY NAME.”
Instantly she recognized Jesus’ low voice that said “Mary”....... his familiar voice with a certain sound that said “I know you Mary”. With his spoken words to her, JESUS caused everything to shift in the human experience of knowledge of death and burial.
The quantum leap from death to life, was that a woman would be the first voice to share the good news of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ with the world. Her mourning was turned to dancing by the bravery she personally had, to go to the tomb.
And she cried ....... again.
Dr Gayla Holley

It was the worst of times.... and it was the best of times.

What a paradox this day is? It's called Good Friday because it became the day that God redeemed mankind.  No more would sin have the rule over us, we could be set free.  How? By the sacrificed Lamb of God - Jesus Christ the Messiah.  So it was the best day of all times..... yet it was the worst day of all time.  

Man killed the Son of God!!!!! Jesus was crucified and died upon a cross shedding his sinless blood for all those who look to Him for salvation. An horrific act of the creation toward the Creator.  But yet God in his infinite wisdom and love redeemed us through our own sinful wickedness.

Makes me shake my head in wonder at how good God is! 

Today we celebrate his death and burial........ and remember what Jesus' death did for us.

But it's not over yet. 

In the space of three days..... every. single. thing. planned. by. hell. for. our. demise. was. forever. turned. upsidedown.  We were saved.

Resurrection Morning happened. Jesus rose out of the grave - alive forevermore. forever to be my savior, my redeemer, my healer, my way maker, my miracle worker, my Beloved Lord. Forever. 

And nothing can ever take that away. From me. 

Makes me smile just thinking about this. 

It was the worst of days.... it was the best of days. Good Friday. Take heart..... Sunday is coming!! 

The 7 Secrets of Being a Lady

 

Friends..... I have spent many years teaching women's classes 'Live' sessions, private sessions, home sessions, church sessions and online session on my Facebook page.  But I'm seriously turning my attention to the written page because it seems if we only hear something, it tends to go in one ear and out the other.  But if it's written down..... we are able to focus more, go back to it and reread it again and again.  It's said that the pen is more powerful that the spoken word.  I believe it. 

This was an ad promoting a online class that was  done in the past.  The material is so good and seems to be needed now more that ever!  This lesson 'The 7 Secrets of Being a Lady'........ can help a woman become a lady if the lesson is applied.  

It's time to be a lady..... again!

Pro31 Verse 10 

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. 

 

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary:

Virtue: Behavior, actions or attitudes that show high moral standards. 

 

As a jewel of gold in a swines snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.  Pro 11:22

Today….. just go to Walmart, the Mall, or look into politics, or the social agendas woman act out in.  Or simply look on social media! Need I say more? 

So what are the secrets to being a lady? 

1.Spirituality - her daily relationship with God gives her great contentment. And it shows in her life. 

2.Character - lives by a set of beliefs that shows her morality, she is discrete, tactful, guards her words and actions. 

3. Lives in Peace - not looking for evil in others, or critical.  Not a negative reaction to things she may not understand, this shows on her face. 

4. Knows her Season.  She accepts and understands what season she is in life.  She acts age appropriate!  Child bearing age? Mother of teenagers, empty nester, single woman, widow, career single? 

5. She has captured her strengths from the jaws of sorrow and loss.  Turned her mourning into joys. Has inner fortitude and is not easily shaken. 

6. Sweet natured.  Developed her personality to accomplish life’s callings. 

7. Talented.  she has searched…. cultivated…. developed herself…. trained…. and educated herself into talents to be a blessing to others. How does a woman develop these areas of significance and beauty? Study, Read, listen with an open mind, prayer, practice, emulate others, obey, develop self to be a blessing and a real lady in life.  

Friends........ All ladies are women, but not all women are ladies!

Dr Gayla Holley 

 

 

 

Perspectives...

Boy has my perspective about life changed!

I CANNOT even begin to tell of the massive changes that have happened in my life in the last season- 2015 onwards.  

The Loss of all things that were my 'normal' life of ministry, a MASSIVE change for me after 40+ years.... There is way too much to post here, but down the road details will be given over time. Talk about CHANGE my perspective over how I was comfortable with my ministry life! You have no idea. 

The loss of both of my parents within a very short time of each other. 

The loss of a hero nephew due to suffering from PTSD after major war trauma.  

And now for the REALLY BIG ONE...... My husband's fight with invasive cancer - this fight is happening now, every day and every minute. We have been together 43 years at the writing of this post.  He needs me and I need him! It's a fight and we are a team in this. 

Leaky eyes? You bet! 

Yet I must say...... when I look back at my journals, the many words and dreams the Lord had given to me, He was preparing me for all of this.  The ONE thing..... the ONE thing that has remained steady and steadfast in my life is Him.  Jesus.  The Holy Spirit has held me upright countless days and nights and the ongoing adventure of life itself has brought many surprises that I had no idea were behind the losses.

God's purpose for my life, gives me a new perspective.  After all ..... I am just one character in the Book that God is writing of my life.  

Still learning..... still working on my perspectives over all....

                                   but slowly I'm becoming more dependent and trusting in His ability to lead and take care of me.  He's clearly in charge, not me. 

And now Coronavirus?   God's in charge of me - not you. I'm doing my part to stay safe, and God is doing His part over my life.  

 My perspectives have evolved over time.  Is there anything too hard for God? No. period no. My part is to stay yielded to His plan for me. He can do exceedingly, abundantly above all I can think or ask, true.  But submission is not submission until you have to submit to God's plan.   The battle is not mine, it's the Lords.  And so is my life..... every little detail of it. 

Perspectives....... It's a deep vein of thought i find myself in.